Living your best life.

Intro

Without raising your hands, if I asked you if you were currently living your best life right now? Would you say yes? Are you maximizing your potential as a person, as a Christian, as a mom, or dad, as a student, as a professional? Are you getting the most out of your life in your pursuits, in your spiritual life, in your hobbies, your private life, your physical health, your mental health, your family, your marriage, or your finances?

Those ARE probably some of what we think of right?

Its a popular phrase used by influencers and celebrities on social media, posting pictures or videos on their feeds of their latest attended party or tropic vacation, or maybe even jumping out of airplane.

“Living my best Life.”

The problem, in my mind, is though, is most of what we post about ourselves, whether its facebook, instagram, snapchat, tiktok or any number of other apps is we are sharing our highlight reel, not our “real life” reel. Our pictures with filters, our videos that are snippets. Maybe these moments catch glimpses of our ideal lives. But are we truly living that life day in and day out?

However, Gen Z though, the generation behind my own Millennial generation, is catching this flaw in social media. My my sister-in-law Hannah, a sophomore in college told me over winter break about a new social media, called “Be Real” a platform that let others know if you have doctored a photo through a filter, and asks you to post at random points in the day so others can see an authentic you. Authenticity is an important trait to Gen Z who are flocking to this platform “Be Real” social media.

It honestly didn't seem to appealing to me. Who wants to see the Dad-bod pictures, the acne, the unkept hair? Or is it maybe some of us don’t want to reveal our struggles, our hurt and pain? No one wants to see our private struggles with sin, our anger. While some people love broadcasting their political views, I think some like to keep that stuff private. Are we truly authentic if we keep things private?

No there is nothing wrong with privacy. But understand this, regardless of what we display, the smiles we paint on, the makeup we put on to cover the bruises. God sees it all. He sees beyond our facade, he see’s past our bull****. He’s sees into our hearts and our desires and into our struggles and pain.

I’ve done this frustrating little game with the younger age kids at eddlemon. I ask them, what is the largest number their is, and they compete to say the highest number. I tell them I know a number they can never top. So they tell me larger numbers, such as inifinity, and guguplex. (Is that even a real number?). I tell them no. I can still beat it. What number is that Pastor Ross? I say, “my number is 2 plus whatever you say!” Out of infinite possibilities of numbers, there are always numbers higher, so I just add 2 to whatever number that is come up with. It can’t be beaten.

God knows a life for each of us that is always atleast 2 better than the life we are currently living. With Jesus the potential best life for us as infinite possibilities. That life is likely not just a matter of prosperity on Earth, but a life leading us to the greater life even to come. I believe God does want to unlock the best possible versions of ourselves now, but for serving a personal purpose better than just simple aesthetics can achieve. Today we are going to look at one called disciple’s journey to living his best life in Jesus.

Lets pray.

I have talked about Peter before a number of times. His life has always fascinated me. Peter was always my favorite of the disciples. Peter was a fishermen with his brother Andrew. This was his trained profession. You always get the sense though as you read in the gospels that Peter is not satisfied with his life. He was on the lookout for a Messiah, but like most of his peers he was looking for the wrong type of savior. Before Jesus called him to follow him, Peter was not living his best life. It had nothing to do with being a fisherman. His best life had nothing to do with what he pictured for himself. His best. His best life would be the one that was not marked by wealth or achievement. His best life came from his moments of humble pie, teaching him to become a servant. It was then and only then could Jesus un-tap his leadership potential.

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If you have your Bible’s with you I would encourage you to turn to Luke 5.

Luke 5:4–11 ESV

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Notice Peter’s response when he recognizes whom he is talking to in verse 8.

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Depart from me because I am a sinful man.

As the reader this almost sounds silly to me. He is recognizing he is in the presence of the Savior, literally the one who saves, and he feels unworthy. Not enough and also to much self worth is a line Peter plays jump rope with throughout his time with Jesus.

But how many of you at the hospital, tell the doctor, stay away! I’m sick!

Send the dentist away, when you have a cavity?

If Peter defines himself a sinner, why tell the Savior to depart?

You and I may wrestle with sin, but should we call ourselves sinners?

Peter was identifying himself as unworthy, a sinner…which is interesting because he later confirms a superiority complex of himself as a Jew one of God’s people over the gentiles…like i said, plays jump rope with this self worth and identity.

Sinners were exactly who Jesus came to be with. To spend time with, and ultimately change.

But once they have been changed, but they still wrestle in sin, are they still called sinners?

I have no problem admitting I am a sinner. That said should we define ourselves as sinners or ones who have been redeemed, who have been changed. I’m not into perfectionism theology. Every person I know who has followed that path has eventually crumbled under the pressure of some sense of earning salvation.

If we are saved it will be by grace and it will be by the blood of the Lamb, plain and simple. We’ve got to be willing to accept that gift.

So it’s important for us to be clear as to what makes one categorically righteous/ saint vs. wicked/sinner. It’s not through actions or measuring our track record (for then who could actually be considered righteous/saint). Instead, it’s by whom we associate with. Are we considered God’s own? Have we been redeemed? Have we been set apart? Etc. etc.

Maybe The identity of sinner only is fitting to the one who has not yet received the salvation offered through Christ. This is precisely why Paul begins every letter as, “to the saints of God.” It’s a recognition that categorically they have been removed from the category of the wicked/sinners and through Christ are now the righteous/ holy ones/ set apart ones/ saints.

The issue I observe many of us struggle with in this line of thinking, that some think they can take advantage of this declaration, willfully continuing in sinful pursuits while claiming salvation.

Let God worry about the savatory judging. Thats over our pay grade.

When we have truly accepted God’s grace and have been redeemed, changed…you will see the change outwardly. We do live differently. Some peoples change takes place at different rates though. Thats why I say, lets not let our judgments exceed our status.

While I do not subscribe to the earthly perfection theory, the argument descriptors I can get on board with, which is using kind of synomym, meaning whole. God does make us whole, even while wrestling with our earthly propensity for sin.

Looking at Peter, Jesus sees a man operating at maybe a quarter of his potential. With His guidance, he’d become someone who could do more than cast nets into the sea, but now cast a net into mankind and win souls. A true Fisher of Men!

In order to maximize this particular disciple’s potential as well as the others. Jesus would have to teach disciplines in a few areas.

You really can’t narrow Jesus’ infinite lessons to Peter and the other disciples to just a few.

As it says at the conclusion of John. change slide

John 21:25 ESV

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

So for times sake I want to focus on a few valuable, really paradigm shifting lessons Jesus shared with Peter and the other disciples for them to live their best lives.

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Compassion. Humility. Sacrifice.

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Compassion.

You could give a good argument this example was as much about humility as it was compassion, but stick with me.

When Jesus warned Peter about his impending denial, He said,

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“Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31).

Wheat was typically separated from the chaff by being shaken and tossed up into the air in a stiff wind. The chaff was blown away and the wheat would fall into a pile, thus purified.

We might have expected Jesus to reassure Peter by saying, “I’m not going to allow Satan to sift you.” But He didn’t. He would allow the devil to put Peter to the test (as God did in the case of Job). He said, in essence, “I’m going to let him do it. I’m going to let Satan shake the very foundations of your life. Then I’m going to let him toss you to the wind—until there’s nothing left but the reality of your faith.”

Jesus did reassure Peter that the apostle’s faith would survive the ordeal.

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“I have prayed for you,” Jesus told him, “that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

It was then that Peter arrogantly insisted that he would never stumble. Yet despite his protestations, before the night was over, he did deny Jesus, and his whole world was severely shaken. His ego was deflated. His self-confidence was annihilated. His pride suffered greatly. But his faith never failed.

What was this all about? Jesus was equipping Peter to strengthen the brethren.

People with natural leadership abilities often tend to be short on compassion, lousy comforters, and impatient with others. They don’t stop very long to care for the wounded as they pursue their goals.

Peter needed to learn compassion through his own ordeal, so that when it was over, he could strengthen others in theirs.

For the rest of his life, Peter would need to show compassion to people who were struggling. After being tested and failing, Peter was well equipped to empathize with others’ weaknesses. He could hardly help having great compassion for those who succumbed to temptation or fell into sin.

He had been there. And by that experience he learned to be compassionate, tender-hearted, gracious, kind, and comforting to others who were lacerated by sin and personal failure. change slide

In 1 Peter 5:8–10, he wrote,

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Peter understood human weakness, and he understood it well. He had been to the bottom. His own weaknesses had been thrown in his face. But he had been established, strengthened, and settled by the Lord. As usual, he was writing out of his own experience. These were not theoretical precepts he taught.

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Humility.

Yes in order to gain compassion, Jesus humbled Peter a number of times. But to me no such example embodies Peter’s struggle to jump rope between self-doubt and self- confidence, as his near drowning experience when walking on water.

Jesus had spent some personal time with His father as had been his tradition, especially resting after tending to the large crowds. The disciples had been instructed to cross the lake.

Matthew 14:25–32 ESV

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Desire of Ages comments on this story: change slide

Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, “Lord, save me.” Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Walking side by side, Peter’s hand in that of his Master, they stepped into the boat together.

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Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls.

Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

Jesus read the character of His disciples. He knew how sorely their faith was to be tried. In this incident on the sea He desired to reveal to Peter his own weakness,—to show that his safety was in constant dependence upon divine power. Amid the storms of temptation he could walk safely only as in utter self-distrust he should rely upon the Saviour. It was on the point where he thought himself strong that Peter was weak; and not until he discerned his weakness could he realize his need of dependence upon Christ. Had he learned the lesson that Jesus sought to teach him in that experience on the sea, he would not have failed when the great test came upon him.

It wouldn’t be Peter’s last fall at behest of his pride. But it needed to be this way. It was good this took place in full view of the disciples.

Humility should be a natural response to the power and presence of God. It would take these doses of humility in order for his compassionate relatable character to emerge as a leader when the time was called on. Peter was being broken in order to replace his pride with humility and gratefulness. Living His Best Life would be a life free of self-promotion and prideful spirit.

However another attribute Jesus would still yet teacher Peter was:

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Sacrifice.

Peter had often looked at himself as Jesus’ protector. Oh silly Peter. I imagine Jesus must’ve smiled amused a few times s Peter positioned himself as his personal security, and body guard. I don’t think Peter was bluffing at all at being willing to die for Jesus. If bullets were around back then, he certainly would have been willing to take one for Jesus.

Peter was sincere in his belief that he had the courage to lay it on the line for Christ. But as Jesus has with each of us, He has a larger vantage point of analyzing our weakness to temptations.

During the last supper, prior to Gethsamane, and directly following Judas’s confusing desertion from the meal. It says:

John 13:36–38 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Many things took place that night, including Peter, James, and John sleeping while Jesus had asked them to pray while He battled with what would take place shortly. Peter did attempt to defend Jesus. But not in the way Jesus sought. He drew his knife and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest, attempting to prevent Jesus’ arrest. Not only did Jesus heal the man, but shamed Peter for not recognizing if this wasn’t God’s will, would He not send legions of angels to defend Him.

Of course I think we know the rest of story. That night leading up until dawn Jesus’s prophecy came true. And as low as Peter may have felt at falling into the water in front of his peers and in front of Jesus. This was rock bottom for Peter. No one mourned harder Jesus following his crucifixion. However we also know Jesus rose and eventually began appearing to his disciples.

After appearing to Peter and the other disciples on the shore. Jesus has another heart to heart with Peter.

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John 21:15–19 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

The writings of historian Josephus, record the manner in which Peter would one day be martyred. Peter considered it to much of an honor to die in the same way Jesus once had. He elected to be crucified upside down.

This sacrifice, although noble, had not been the sole sacrifice Jesus wanted Peter to embrace. It was to sacrifice self. Reliance on self and lean into dependance on Him. If Peter was to be a great leader in the early church, he would need to take self out of the equation. Position, greed, hierarchy, needed to be chiseled from his desires.

Sacrifice is not asked of each of us in the same way, but as a follower of Jesus we called to make sacrifices.

Listen to this quote from Admiral William H. McRaven in his book the Hero code.

For most of us, our sacrifices do not come in one shining moment of extraordinary valor.For most of us, our sacrifices are little acts of giving that build upon themselves and over time become something worthwhile, something remarkable: the single mother who works two jobs to care for her children; the teacher who labors over a struggling student; the cop who coaches youth basketball; the child who nurses their ailing parent. What makes these sacrifices so heroic is that there are no adoring crowds to thank you, no awards to receive, and no gilded words about your bravery. Nothing accrues to you but the knowledge that your actions were noble--an act of grace with no expectation of gratitude.

All of these sacrifices are an investment in humanity, and like any investment, adding a little every day will make you wealthy. Not the kind of wealth you can spend, but the kind of wealth that will make you rich--rich in gratitude, rich in satisfaction, rich in appreciation.

-Admiral William H. McRaven

[The Hero Code]

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Peter would go on to make big sacrifices in his life, but it began with his character, when Jesus had truly remade him into a man meeting his true potential.

Peter’s best life, was not the one he envisioned before encountering Christ, maybe not even the one he pictured for most of his time walking with Christ, but his best life was lived when he came to a full surrender to Jesus.

My friends your best life is one lived in following Jesus. It doesn’t mean freedom from pain, or difficulty. But it does come with satisfaction and peace. To live your best life is walking this planet and seeing an unknown immediate future filled with things that cause a lot of stress and anxiety. But you continue to walk in peace, knowing whatever is out there, you are walking with God as your guide and Master. I don’t know what sacrifices God is asking you to make, He may still have some humbling for you to experience. He does want you to live compassionately imitating Him every day.

Live your best life today, following Jesus!