SCRIPTURE:
“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.’”
John 21:7-9
OBSERVATION:
All Simon Peter had to hear was “It is the Lord,” and he was out of the boat and into the water. Wow, what zeal! Yet, what confuses me is that he would put his outer garment back on before jumping in the water, probably knowing that his peers would follow and could have brought his outer garment to him later … dry. Many possible suppositions could be pondered here, however, I’ll leave it at what it was. We also know from other scriptures that Peter was often impulsive, speaking with zeal before he thought things out. Later in these series of verses, when Jesus asked for the fish to be brought to himself, Peter was right on top of it being the first to drag the net ashore. What gem does the Lord have for me here?
APPLICATION:
These verses remind me of Eddie Aikau, the renown Hawaiian life guard, surfer, and member of the Hokule’a voyaging canoe. In a ravaging storm while on one its maiden voyages, Eddie would leave the Hokule’a on a surfboard to get help; never to be seen again. Eddie had such a zeal and passion for the causes and call he was involved with that he was the first to go forth with no fear: hence, the saying “Eddie Would Go.” Yet, like Peter, Eddie felt the compulsion to act and jumped into the storming wind and water off of Molokai never to be seen or heard from again. The rest of the crew would later be rescued. Was Eddie’s act of fearlessness in vain? Absolutely not, as his heroic act would become a life-lesson that so many people have used to spur and encourage others in quests of importance, putting others before ourselves, and taking on precarious situations for the lives of others.
These scriptures prompt me to glean from the attributes of both Peter and his peers, and Eddie and his fellow crew members. To have the zeal for Christ and His call on my life; but to also have the patience and wisdom to seek the Lord, and think through matters; before jumping in the water or the fire, prompted by zeal and fearlessness only. Take nothing away from Peter or Eddie’s acts of zeal, commitment and fearlessness; I would like to have been known for my willingness to “go,” yet, I would also love to be known for having the wisdom of a Solomon that thought through matters and sought God in prayer, first.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for the life-lessons that we can glean from your Word and from life; that we can become the people you want and call us to be. May I be blessed to learn to glean from the character and attributes of heroes and leaders that have gone before me to be the best that I can be. May you bless me with the zeal of Peter, the Wisdom of Solomon and the patience and perseverance of Paul.
