Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Pick a song from one of our Spotify Playlists & let it play in the background.
FOCUS. Breathe in & out slowly. Pray, Through Jesus’ resurrection, I have hope today.
THANK. Write down or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for from the last 24 hours.
WORSHIP. Read 2 Peter 1:3-15. Focus on one truth about who God is & thank Him for it.
PRAY. Pray the Lord’s Prayer, a Ripple Prayer, or find more at paradoxchurch.com/pray.
READ. Today’s reading is from John 21:1-23
ASK. After reading, ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts.
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?
THINK. A Thought from Holly MacDonald
This passage of scripture is pretty chilling to me. Jesus and Peter are exchanging their last words together while Jesus asks him three times if Peter loves him. This had to remind Peter when he, not long ago, denied Jesus… three times. Then Jesus proceeds to tell Peter about his (Peter’s) death. But not just any death, death on a cross. As chilling as it probably was for Peter to hear that, I have to imagine it brought him some assurance that he would be faithful to Jesus to the very end. What I have not noticed before is, Jesus finishes that moment with Peter by saying, “Follow me”. In other words... keep on following me even to the point of death. We all like comfortable Christianity, don’t we? Go to church on Sunday’s, hang out with our friends at life group, serve in the kid’s program at church, maybe throw in a mission trip, and pray about stressful things in our life in between all of that. As long as it’s convenient, I’ll put God first. We’ve all been there. Jesus’ interaction with Peter reminds us though, there's a cost to following Him. The cost is our life. Are you willing to follow Jesus even if you don't get the breakthrough? Even when it’s inconvenient? Even when it costs you time? Money? Friends? Your job? Are you willing to follow Jesus in the middle of the suffering, even if there is no reprieve on this side of Heaven? We don’t suffer on earth for the sake of suffering. We suffer willingly, like Christ, because we know what’s coming. We get to look forward, as Peter says, “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:4). I've not been there yet, but according to Scripture, it's worth every bit of  suffering to get there.
TALK. That was our take - what’s yours? Share thoughts & ask questions in the forum.
SHARE. Stay focused with a friend! Invite them to text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

Stay focused on Jesus today, and make it a great one!