A Pivotal Play

A Series on Spiritual Turning Points
Moments in Time: Pivotal
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mark 8:27-35 

[God is always at work in our life – drawing us to him, helping us to become the person he created us to be and leading us to opportunities to serve him. In this series we will look at spiritual turning points in the lives of real people and the moments in time that it happened. Applying this to our own life, sometimes this happens suddenly, sometimes gradually, but always with purpose.]

  

Sometimes during a football game, you can point to one moment, or one play, that shifted the outcome of the whole game. Sometimes, one play can even be pivotal for the remainder of the season. Such was the case on October 17, 2015.

Michigan State was playing their instate rival, the University of Michigan. With ten seconds left in the game Michigan was leading 23-21. However, they had to punt. 

“There’s trouble with the snap” yelled the TV announcer. Then a Michigan State player picked up the fumble and ran for the winning touchdown!

 

Jesus had taken his disciples on an unexpected route outside of Galilee into the pagan city of Caesarea Philippi. The city was well known for its worship of Greek gods as well as a temple devoted to Baal. Noticing this, it may have prompted Jesus to ask his disciples “Who do people say I am”.

 

He didn’t ask out of idol curiosity or a need for his ego to be stroked. Instead, he used the opportunity to gauge if it was time to make a pivotal shift in his ministry. Most likely his second question was what he really wanted to ask them.

 

²⁹ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”    NLT

 

Peter’s confession was pivotal in Jesus’ ministry. For one thing, it changed the course of where they would go. From that point forward, Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem and the cross. But also, now Jesus would teach his disciples what to expect once they arrived in Jerusalem.

 

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.  NIV

 

Although Peter was correct to say that Jesus was the Messiah, he had the wrong understanding of the word. At that time, Messiah had come to describe the king who was expected to rescue Israel from its enemies and establish his kingdom.

 

Therefore, when Jesus spoke about suffering and being rejected and killed, it didn’t compute for Peter. In fact, he confronted Jesus. However, Jesus rebuked Peter with this stunning statement: “Get behind me Satan”.

 

Then Jesus called the crowd over, along with his disciples, and told them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. The paraphrase of this in The Message is insightful.

 

³⁴ Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.             MSG

 

This was a pivotal lesson for Peter to learn. Truth be known, it’s a pivotal lesson for all of us to learn. Jesus accepted Peter for who he was and where he was at in his understanding. He does the same with us.

 

A pivotal play can change a moment of our life; a day, a season, or even the rest of our life. But it boils down to one thing. That is, how do WE answer Jesus’ question… It’s pivotal!

 

¹⁵ “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”      NIV    Matthew 16

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

A New Engine

A series on meeting God – Peter
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-17 

[We all have a story about how we met God. Some are more miraculous than others, but none more amazing than the mere fact that the Living God, our Creator, reached out to bring us into relationship with him. In this series, we will be looking at how people in the Bible met God, and what that means to you today.]

  

Have you ever bought a car that you later concluded was a lemon? I did. It was a green Toyota Celica that I bought from a private seller in the late 70’s. He claimed to be mechanical, and that the car was in good condition.

 

However, when I drove it home, stinky smoke spewed from the exhaust. Even before I could enjoy driving around town in it, I discovered that it needed a new engine. The lure of a flashy sports car resulted in owning a lemon.

 

This is a good metaphor for Peter. His first meeting with Jesus happened one morning after he and his business partners had fished all night but without catching anything. Jesus asked if he could use Peter’s boat as a podium to speak to the crowds on the shore.

 

When finished, he told Peter to put out into the deep water and drop his nets. Peter protested mildly but acquiesced. After dropping his nets in the water, there were so many fish that it was too heavy to pull into the boat. He had to call for help.

 

When Peter understood what had happened, he fell to his knees. Jesus then called Peter to follow him and that “from now on you will fish for men”. Upon hearing this, Peter left everything including his family and fishing business, to follow Jesus.

 

Three years later, during the Last Supper, Peter declared to Jesus and to all the disciples, that he would never deny him. That he would follow Jesus to prison, even to death. But later that night, things changed drastically.

 

Following Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied knowing him three times. On the third time, as the cock crowed, Jesus looked right at Peter. Alone, and in the darkness of his guilt and shame, Peter “went outside and wept bitterly”.

 

Peter was clearly flawed! Had Jesus made a mistake when he called Peter to follow him? Was this macho fisherman with all the brave bravado a bust? Was Peter a flashy sports car that turned out to be a lemon?

 

After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, Peter and some of the disciples went to the Sea of Galilee. It was a déjà vu experience for Peter as he and the others fished all night but without catching anything.

 

Then from the shore, Jesus called out to tell them to drop their net again. This time there were so many fish that they couldn’t pull the net into the boat. When Peter realized that it was Jesus, he jumped into the water and went to him.

 

After they had all eaten, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. It was the same number of times that Peter had denied Jesus. By the third query, Peter became frustrated. But he consistently and adamantly answered, “Yes”!

 

Like my flashy sports car that needed a new engine, so did Peter. Jesus graciously welcomed Peter back as his friend and the rock upon which he would build his church.

 

Truthfully, we’re all lemons; we all need a new engine. And yet Jesus calls us to follow him. Did he make a mistake with us? No! He calls us and continues to call us to follow him and build his kingdom.

 

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.    ESV   2 Corinthians 5

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Lod Arahbull Box

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Peter
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 26:31-35; 69-75 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

Quite a few years ago we were on our way to meet some friends for a vacation in Kentucky. Unfortunately, we were running late so I called the lodging office to let them know that we wouldn’t make it before they closed.

 

The lady who answered sounded very nice and proceeded to tell me that the key would be available in the “lod arahbull box”. I asked her to repeat that, which she did. But I still had no idea what she’d said. It took me a minute before it hit me that she had said “late arrival box”. She had a distinctive Kentucky accent.

 

Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. There was a lot happening during their Passover meal. Judas had already decided to betray Jesus. Some of the disciples argued about who was the greatest. Meanwhile, Jesus washed their feet and served them bread and wine.

 

At the end of the meal, Jesus told his disciples that they would desert him that same night. Proud and impulsive as always, Peter declared that he would never desert Jesus. Even if he had to die with him, he wouldn’t deny him.

 

Jesus told a different story.

 

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”           NLT

 

Following this, Jesus and the disciples went to Gethsemane where he was arrested and taken to the chief priests’ home. Peter followed him there but remained outside with others which included servants who recognized him as a follower of Jesus.

 

He denied it! In fact, he denied even knowing Jesus! On the third time he was identified by his Galilean accent. This time, Peter not only swore that he didn’t know Jesus, but he also called down a curse upon himself.

 

As he said this, a rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. It was then that he remembered the prediction that Jesus had made earlier that night. Scripture tells us that “Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly”. He was living in the wilderness.

 

His public betrayal of friendship and loyalty was devastating. For all of Peter’s bluster, he had failed far beyond what anyone could have imagined. He had failed his rabbi, his close friend and the man who he had proclaimed was the Messiah.

 

Despite his failure, Jesus gave Peter a second chance. He saw Peter’s potential as a leader of the church; as the Rock that he could build upon. He knew that Peter was a work in progress.

 

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.             NIV    Ephesians 2

 

Like the “lod arahbull box” lady, Peter was identified by his accent. As Paul wrote, we are the Lord’s handiwork, and he has created us to do something special. Hopefully, our good works will be our accent that identifies us as a follower of Jesus.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Do You Measure Up?

The Life of Jesus Series

How Jesus interacted with others.

Mark 10:17-31

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010%3A17-31&version=NIV;NLT

 

We all try to measure up to the expectations of somebody or something or even ourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For instance, I’ve always looked up to my older brother. For one thing, he’s 6 feet 6 inches tall. He also has a PhD in chemistry. In addition, he has an amazing vocabulary and a tremendous capacity for retention. I don’t measure up to any of these.

 

The rich young ruler was focused on the goal of measuring up. On the outside, he appeared to be a sincere seeker. He ran up to Jesus and knelt down before him. He confessed that he had kept the laws since he was a boy. He knew how to look good; how to have the appearance of righteousness. But he also knew that he wasn’t righteous. Then, Jesus broke his heart.

 

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.       NIV

 

What about the disciples? Were they any better than the rich young ruler?

 

Jesus said, ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”… ²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”             NIV

 

Ah yes. Leave it to Peter to say what all the rest of the disciples were thinking. “Hey what about us? We’re better than that young guy you just turned away Jesus! We gave up everything to follow you.”

 

The disciples felt entitled. The rich young ruler felt entitled. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we feel entitled. In this context, feeling entitled is an attempt to earn eternal life; to measure up to God’s perfection. But we can’t!

 

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone… ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”      NIV

 

We can’t measure up to the goodness of God. We can’t reach that goal of being righteous on our own. We can’t inherit eternal life by outward obedience.

 

Thankfully, through God’s grace, He meets us where we’re at and loves us enough to tell us the truth. Then, it’s up to us to follow Him and accept the gift that only He can give.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building Blocks

2 Peter 1:3-8

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201%3A3-8&version=NIV;NLT

 

At my house, there’s an area in the living room that is dedicated to our grandchildren with various toys for them to play when they visit. One of the toys that they enjoy is a set of large Legos. Normally, what happens is one of them builds a tower that the other knocks down. No sibling rivalry there.

 

Each time a block is placed on top of another it becomes a building block. The foundation of course, is most important because if the foundation isn’t constructed correctly, the whole thing will fall down; even without the help of a grandchild.

 

The definition of a building block is “a unit of construction or composition; especially something essential on which a larger entity is based”. If you think about it, that’s what Peter is describing in these verses.

 

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. NIV

 

Peter knows all about building blocks and growing in his faith. He was very impetuous and immature during Jesus’ three years of ministry on earth. It wasn’t until after the resurrection and Pentecost that Peter began to bear fruit. The truth is that all of us who have been called have received what we need to bear fruit.

 

³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. NLT

⁸ The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NLT

 

As I thought about these verses, some questions came to mind. What am I doing to grow? What do I need to change to grow? And, in the spirit of my grandchildren’s Legos, What are the building blocks of my spiritual growth?

 

Whatever your answers are to these questions, the goal is to share in God’s nature; to become more like Jesus.

 

 

 

God-in-a-Box

Acts 11:1-18

 

No doubt you have seen a “jack in the box” toy before. You may have even played with one as a child; which means that you experienced the excitement of anxiously anticipating the clown to unexpectedly pop out of the box as “Pop Goes the Weasel” reached its climax.

 

Have you ever tried to control God? It sounds ridiculous to ask the question, but if we are honest with ourselves, we do it every day. It’s called sin. We rationalize, manipulate and do everything but back flips, to control our world.

 

The church in the first century tried to control God by saying that only Jews could follow Jesus, not Gentiles; not the uncircumcised. They wanted a god-in-a-box; a god that they could control; that wouldn’t surprise them.

 

After visiting Cornelius in Caesarea, Peter returns to Jerusalem where he comes under fire for associating with the uncircumcised. He explains to the Jews how the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles in the same way that He had with them.

 

^17 “Since God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?” ¹⁸ When the believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, “So God is allowing even other nations to turn to him and live.” NCV

 

Confronting this concept of a god-in-a-box, was a constant battle for Jesus during his earthly ministry. His ministry focused on people who were scorned by the culture, and as a result, were social, religious and emotional outsiders.

 

Think of the hemorrhaging woman, the lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, the demoniac; all of them fit into this category. The religious establishment didn’t have room for them. Their god-in-a-box wouldn’t allow it.

 

God-in-a-box: it doesn’t seem like it would sell very well, but in reality, we all buy into it. We want to control our life and if we can control God, then we are well on our way to accomplishing our goal.

 

But God will not be controlled. His Holy Spirit will move whomever and whenever He desires.

 

 

 

Our decision is whether we want to be a part of His work… or not.