January 25th, 2026: Call and Growth | Matthew 4:18-20, 16:16-18, John 21:15-18, 2 Peter 3:14-15,18

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

Copyright ©:: Linda Ellis

Today’s lesson is about our calling and our growth as Christians. How well do we use the time between our birth and our death to understand and follow our calling? The verses for this lesson encompass the spiritual life of the Apostle Peter. Peter, according to scripture, was quite outspoken, strong-willed, and seriously impulsive. On at least two occasions, he expresses an opinion that places him in disagreement with Jesus! Can you believe God chose to use someone like Peter? He did, and He still does. We can learn a lot from Peter about ourselves!  

The fulfillment of Peter’s calling and purpose required some spiritual maturity. Just like ours, his  path to God’s plan had a lot of twists and turns.  This unlearned fisherman turned the world upside down and accomplished much more than he expected for the cause of Christ! And so can we!

Matthew 4:18-20  The Call

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

One of the first to be called to follow Jesus is Simon, most commonly known to us as Peter. He is also called Cephas. He was a fisherman.  Peter’s  brother Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist.  John announced to them to “Behold the Lamb of God!” and introduced his followers to the Messiah Jesus, whom he baptized.  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:40-41). 

 Our Christian walk begins with an introduction to Jesus, as the Son of God, repentance, and a commitment to follow him. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Like Peter, we start our journey when someone tells us who Jesus is.  Our experience with Jesus builds and grows, increasing our faith. 

 God gives his children purpose and calling to bring Him glory and enjoy His fellowship forever.  To accomplish this, He gives us gifts and talents to use.  His desire is that we use obedience and skill to be a light in this world, bringing others to Him.   God factors in our failures and our headstrong, rebellious nature, He can use the flawed.  God sees in us what we cannot see ourselves.  He uses us as it pleases Him. This humble impulsive fisherman started out without any clue of how far God would take him. How far will God take you?  How far have you come already?   

Matthew 16: (16-18)

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter had now spent some time with Jesus. He had seen miracles of healing, feeding thousands and casting out demons.  In most of the gospel accounts, Peter, James, and John are sometimes separated for private conversations with Jesus. 

Jesus  asks his twelve,  “ Who do men say that I am” and “ Who do you say I am?”  Peter answers first.  Jesus blessed Peter and reminded him that it was God who had revealed that to him.  What Peter knew about the identity of Christ came from more than observation.  It came through inspiration.  You can know all about Christ, but the drawing of the Holy Spirit is required for you to truly know HIm as your Savior and Lord.  The confession made by Peter was through divine revelation, just as it does when our eyes are opened and we are brought into the family of God.

What has God revealed to you?  Have you been growing in your faith? Is your commitment to Jesus stronger now than when you began?  It should be!  The Rock of knowing who Jesus  is the foundation of your faith.  It’s where Christ begins construction of the church.  Are you storming, unafraid, against the gates of Hell to reach out to  a world still blinded to the truth?   

 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Peter voiced not only a great confession, but a great denial.  Because of fear, he had pretended not to know Christ when he was being tried and tortured.  An extremely ego crushing thing had happened.  Peter had failed.  The same Peter that jumped out of the boat to walk on the water, then took his eyes off of Jesus and sank, removed the servant of the high priest's ear to protect Jesus, but then turned coward after his arrest.   The same Peter that was with Jesus and saw the Transfiguration, and offered to build three temples had gone back to fishing after the resurrection, disqualifying himself from the ministry that God had called him to.  Peter had argued with Jesus when He said that Peter would deny him; and now he wrestled with Jesus’ questioning of his love and commitment.  Peter had failed, Christ never does!  He allows his confession of love to be the final word and not his denials. 

  Ever been there?  Abundant in failures? Ever found yourself in a place of shame and disgrace? How did you get here? What were you thinking? Why didn’t you listen?  Christ desires to restore you.  His callings are without repentance.  Come back and sit with the Lord, listen to His words.  Remember that you can not trust in your heart, but you can trust in Him completely.

After Jesus’ resurrection, the angel said to the ladies And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (Mark 16:4-7) .

What emotions must have consumed Peter when he heard his name specifically mentioned. I think Peter knew that Jesus loved him, I think he had lost all confidence in his love for Christ.  He may have been embarrassed to be asked three times, in front of the others.  No one likes to confront their failures.  Wanting to answer honestly, his word for love, meaning brotherly love, fell far short of the love Jesus asked for, which is godly love. Christ’s love is limitless and powerful, our love grows with experience and obedience.  If he felt as if he didn’t have what it took to love God enough, Jesus was telling him to “feed the sheep” and love God in action.  Peter’s sins and failures, like ours, were nailed to an old rugged cross, enough love was given there to make up for all our deficiencies.   

It is never a matter of “if” we will fail in our effort.  It is a matter of “when.”  More importantly, it is how we learn and grow, how we develop a reliance on Him through our failures, that draws us closer to the heart of God.  Jesus wasn’t angry with Peter.  Peter was learning.  The same goes for us.  We don’t get to quit when we are not perfect, for perfect we never will be.  The grace of God will pick us back up and push us onward, obedience to what we know will bring about the confidence for what lies ahead.  Confess the wrong, confess the weakness. Most of all confess the Sovereign Power of Christ to do all things through the strength that He gives.  Failures followed by Redemption are as much a part of Peter’s witness as the sermons and letters he wrote.  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29).

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Most scholars agree that when writing 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter was preparing for his own death.  He had grown old. He had seen a lot of things.  He had been imprisoned and beaten for his witness of Jesus.    He continued learning and growing in his calling right up to the end.  Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).  He preached to the Samaritans (Acts 4).  He preached to the Roman Cornelius (Acts 10).  What did he preach?-  the Keys to heaven: Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God who was crucified, died, buried and had risen again. God  has used Peter to teach and preach the plan of salvation.  Peter wrote two books of the New Testament.  His books would encourage and warn believers not to fall away from the gospel, not to run when suffering came.  His words would remind us that just as he had done, we all need to mature and grow in our God given calling; relying on HIs strength to overcome our weakness.  

The Dash

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speakat the funeral of a friend.He referred to the dates on the tombstonefrom the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birthand spoke the following date with tears,but he said what mattered most of allwas the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved themknow what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and loveand how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.Are there things you’d like to change?For you never know how much time is leftthat can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enoughto consider what’s true and realand always try to understand? the way other people feel.

And be less quick to angerand show appreciation moreand love the people in our liveslike we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respectand more often wear a smile,remembering that this special dashmight only last a little while.

?So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash…would you be proud of the things they sayabout how you spent YOUR dash?

Copyright ©:: Linda Ellis