Habits

Intro

Have you ever hear the saying, “you don’t know what you got, till its gone”?

It is such a true statement isn’t it? there are so many things in life that matter to us, but unfortunately we don’t always see how much they matter until they aren’t there anymore.

When I was a kid I was huge Michael Jordan fan. I watched his games and collected his trading cards. I event wrote him a letter once when I was in Elementary School.

I even got a letter back with a trading card and a sticker that I am sure did not come from Michael Jordan himself, but never the less I thought it was so cool.

And I remember back in 1993 when Michael Jordan retired from playing in the NBA. I couldn’t believe number 23 was done. He was still the greatest player in the world and he retired. What was even more shocking was that he retired to pursue a new career as a professional baseball player.

Let’s just say basketball was his game and leave it at that. But then just two years later in 1995 Michael Jordan made a very simple announcement: I’m back.

And just like that Michael Jordan was back in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls only with a different number and in his second game back he scored 55 points!

Michael Jordan loved basketball, and his brief time away showed him he didn’t want to be away from it.

Sometimes it can be like that for us in following Jesus and participating in his body, the Church.

For some of us, there was a time in our lives when we first came to know Jesus that we were on fire for God. There was this passion to know him and to do his will.

The idea of doing anything else seemed foolish.

But then as time went on as it does for all of us, life began to get in the way again. Old habits crept back in. Old relationship stole our attention. Church became less and less of a priority and knowing God went from a daily pursuit to something you do one morning a month as long as there isn’t something else going on that day.

And before you know it, you don’t recognize the person you used to be when you first got saved. And this is not a rare occurrence. This is an all too common problem among Christians today.

I believe this happens so often because we lose sight of the value in following Jesus and being a part of his Church.

It also happens because if we are honest with ourselves we will acknowledge that we will often choose the path of least resistance.

And let’s face it. That path Jesus calls us to walk is anything but that. So when things get hard or challenging. Or when Jesus calls us to the uncomfortable. Our natural response will always be to go back to what is familiar and comfortable. To the path of least resistance.

So over the next two weeks we are going to look at the importance of getting back at it. Back to serving God and his Church the way we once did. And if you are listening to this and thinking that you never really did serve Jesus and his Church all that much, then I hope this short 2 week series will motivate you to consider it.

Power in the Text

John 21:1-7 NLT Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.

5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

In the text, we see a Peter do something that so many of us default to when we feel lost. He went back to what he knew before Jesus.

But understand, this didn’t take place after Jesus death and before his resurrection. It wasn’t as if Jesus had died and in their grief and disappointment they went back to the life they knew before.

It takes place after the resurrection and after the Great Commission.

In other words, they had witnessed the greatest miracle in the history of mankind. Jesus had been doing all of these miracles and now he defeated death. He proved once and for all that he truly was who he claimed to be.

But amazingly, the disciples aren’t out in the world bringing the good news. What are they doing? The disciples went back to what they knew, so Peter returned to fishing.

Peter and several other disciples went out in the boat but caught nothing all night (21:3). Jesus shows up—although they don’t know it’s him (v. 4)—and Jesus gives a call back of their first meeting, Jesus tells them to cast their nets again.

So they cast their nets, catch too many fish to haul in, and realize that Jesus is again in their midst (John 21:7).

Muscle memory and sin are similar. Returning to doing what we are familiar and comfortable with is as easy as riding a bike.

There is some part of us that never forgets, and if we are honest, there is also a part of us that probably wants to get back to the life we had before we knew Jesus.

During 2020 and into 2021, we experienced a time when our ability to participate in worship and church diminished and, in some cases, outright disappeared.

Returning to church or restarting ministry can seem a lot more challenging than continuing to do what we know and what is familiar

Big Idea/Why it Matters

There is something comforting in the familiar. And not just in the sense that we return to the familiar because it is comfortable, but because it is also comforting to know that Jesus seeks out sinners over and over again.

In the story in John 21, Jesus sought out Peter just as he seeks us out. No matter how many times Peter denied Jesus and walked away, Jesus kept returning to seek him out.

He does the same for each and every one of us. There is no such thing as a useless person in the kingdom of heaven, nor is there someone who is beyond forgiveness, even if they must be forgiven over and over.

Peter doesn’t just return to fishing; he returns to unsuccessful fishing and has to be reminded of God’s power.

Sometimes a reminder of God’s power jump-starts our return to him.

The truth is, Peter and the other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. And while they were following him they certainly had a lot of high moments.

Healings

Feeding 5,000

Lazarus

Peter walked on water

Transfiguration

The resurrection

But there were also a lot of lows

Being hated and pushed out of town

Being viewed as a bunch of heretics

Peter sank due to a lack of faith

Peter’s denial

Jesus arrest and crucifixion

And even after seeing the resurrected Jesus and as we learn from verse 14, this was the third time Jesus had appeared to them, yet Peter felt lost and unsure what to do. so he went back to what he knew.

The truth is, following Jesus is hard. Sure it will have is high moments, but it will also have its lows. And it is when it is hard that it is easy to be tempted to fall back into what is familiar and what is comfortable.

But we can’t allow that to happen. And if we have, we have to get back at it. We have to get back into the habit of following Jesus and serving his Church again.

Application/Closing

When we get back at it, we have the opportunity to be Jesus to someone like Peter who may have slowly, or suddenly, left the fold.

It’s an act of love to remind someone of their true love: Jesus. Sometimes we need someone to help us get back at it.

What do you need to get back at it in your relationship with Jesus? What do you need to get back at it when it comes to participating in the ministry of the body of Christ in this world?

Who do you know who could use a supportive friend as they navigate getting back at it?

I can’t tell you how many young people that I have ministered to over the years who watched their parents do the very thing I am warning you against today.

Church was nothing more than a routine and their commitment to his word never extended beyond what was easy and comfortable.

They never saw their parents truly sacrifice for the kingdom of God and so the idea is foreign to them today.

And I don’t think their parents wanted that for their kids, but somewhere along the way they lost their’s. And unfortunately there wasn’t anyone there to help them get back at it.

To get back to Jesus in a way that is transformative rather that theoretical.

Many of those young people are adults now starting to have families of their own and there is no semblance of faith left.

And if there is, like their parents, it is nothing more than a routine. No fire, no passion, no love. No legacy to leave behind. And cycle will just keep repeating itself until someone says enough is enough and gets back at it.

I don’t know about you, but that is not what I want to leave my kids. My prayer for them is that they will be more on fire for God than I ever was.

That God would gift them and use them in ways that far surpass anything I will ever do in this life for the kingdom of God.

And if that is what you want, but you know you need to get back at it, then I encourage you to do so today.