Today I slept in. It rained, but I planned to take today off. I don't run every day. Some days, I don't even run the whole distance – I'll take a break every mile or mile and half and walk for a bit. It sounds counterintuitive, but the breaks actually help my strength and endurance more than running all out all the time.

I take a day off after a long run, after several days of average runs in a row, or for the weekend. But I've also taken days off when I'm extra tired and could use the extra hour of sleep. (I try not to take advantage of that one.) I don't skip a day after a bad outing, though.

I need occasional breaks in my Christian race as well. Now I'm not suggesting taking a break FROM your faith and living like a heathen in order to strengthen your commitment. But we do need breaks from ministry from time to time. Jesus modeled this for us in the gospels. When do we need breaks?

Routine scheduled breaks – Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray, and recharge. In a careful reading of the rest of Luke's gospel, you'll catch Jesus taking these timeouts frequently. Plan to go to Bible study rather than teach once in a while, or visit a different church. You might even attend a retreat or conference. The key is planning for it and not waiting for it to develop. Look at your 2011 calendar- when can you take a break?

After success – When the Twelve returned from a preaching and healing tour of Galilee, flush with success, Jesus immediately took them aside to a desert place to decompress. We tend to think you need to immediately build on success to perpetuate it. The break helps us remember the One who engineered the success, and our dependence on Him.

But not after failure – After Peter's denial, he'd given up on his ministry. He was sure he'd blown his opportunity and headed back to the fishing business. In John 20:15-22, Jesus reaffirms his call and encourages Peter to get back to work. When we experience a setback, our reflex is to quit. We question the path we're on, and God who put us there. That easily leads to completely abandoning our mission.

Before burnout – Just as your body can't function properly without adequate rest, we can't minister if our own well is dry. It's not selfish to take a day or a season off to recharge.

Don't stop, but rest.

Do you have a method for balancing ministry and personal renewal?

If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? John 21:22

After Peter received a prophecy from Christ about where his path of following Christ would take him. Jesus plainly told Peter martyrdom awaited him. Out of curiosity, Peter asked about his buddy, John. What's gonna happen to him? Jesus answers the question with a question- what is that to you? Then Jesus says, "You follow me."

It's easy to look around at other believers and measure our life, our effectiveness against what we see. However, that's the wrong scale. Our call is individual and our purpose is ordained by God and uniquely suited to us. No matter what's going on around us, we need to stick to our mission.

So when others have great ministry success, receive recognition, have tremendous fruit to show for their efforts… Don't give in to discouragement. Keep focused on Jesus.

When others fail spectacularly, and bring reproach on the name of Christ… Don't be distracted. Keep focused on Jesus.

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Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? John 21:15

This question, repeated 3 times, marks a critical moment in Peter's relationship with Jesus. Ashamed at his denial, tentative about taking on the ministry Jesus had for him, afraid of failing again, the last thing Peter wanted to do was answer this question in front of the other guys.

There are volumes of commentary on this exchange. Most agree that Peter's 3 denials warranted 3 public affirmations. There are several good insights as to what the "these" are that Christ refers to each time. However, without hearing the inflection in His voice or seeing His body language, we can't know for certain.

Context gives us a couple of possibilities, though.

Do you love Me more than the comfort of your routine?
Simon Peter had just spent the night fishing. Jesus instructed the disciples to go ahead to Galilee and He'd meet them there. With no sign of Jesus and not sure what to do next, Peter and the others fell back to what was safe and familiar.
Do I love Jesus enough to follow Him into situations that are stressful, or nerve-wracking? Am I willing to walk away from my perceived comfort zone?

Do You love Me more than these guys?
Peter had said, in no uncertain terms, that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he never would. Well, he did. Jesus allowed Peter to humiliate himself in front of his most intimate friends.
Do I love Jesus enough to respond in humility when He puts me through a fire or two? Even if my close friends see me fall?

Do you love Me?
Jesus always had a job for Peter, a ministry, a calling, a purpose. Peter's failure never forfeited that. In this moment, in this simple question, Jesus assured Peter, "I still want you. I still have a place for you. But I won't lie. It will be hard. It will stretch you beyond what you think you are capable of. Are you in?"

Lord, You know I love You.

Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me? John 18:11

Jesus stops His disciples from trying to fight their way out of the Garden of Gethsemane with these words.

The Sword
Peter's sword is a symbol of our feeble attempts to work our way into God's favor. With that one little sword, Peter envisioned taking on a cohort of Roman soldiers (200 -600 men, probably 600 during Passover season) plus the full retinue of temple police. I don't need Jesus' help. I am strong and brave. I can fight my out.

In the end, he cut one man's ear. And Jesus fixed that. Peter had nothing to show for attempt to deliver himself and his friends.

The Cup
Sometimes the cup is a symbol of God's provision – my cup runneth over. Other times, it's a symbol of God's wrath, or at least some type of difficult trial. Jesus faced both.

The Substitute
There is a cup with my name on it. Shall I drink the cup the Father has given me? Can I face the wrath and judgment of God for my sins? I can't.
God made an offer. If HE will die, if HE will take the punishment, I will be satisfied.

Jesus said, I will.

God has ordained that I take on the full fury of His wrath. Shall I not complete that mission?
God has determined that I take your place. Shall I not do that for you?
God has asked Me to submit. How can I refuse Him?

There is no easy way out. This cannot be done on any other terms. The full brutality of man must be displayed. The holiness of God must be vindicated. His wrath must be satisfied. The effects and terrible cost of sin must be shown with unflinching frankness.

Every word, every action since man's fall has drawn us to this moment. I must see it through.
 

Will you lay down your life for My sake? John 13:38

Jesus responds to Peter's claims with this question. Will you? Then He exposed Peter by foretelling the disciple's coming denial. Why did He do that? Jesus requires more than being willing to die for Him. He requires death to self. This is where Peter was fooling himself. Over the next few days, Jesus taught him a painful, yet powerful lesson.

Will you …
Surrender is always an act of will. He could make make us, but He doesn't.

Lay down your life…
Give up your right of self-determination
Give up your agenda

For My sake…
You're not throwing your life away, you're offering it as an act of worship
Is Christ worth it?
Does He deserve all that we are, all that we have?

He asks, "Will you give up this pretense of following Me?"

Does this offend you? John 6:61

Jesus had just finished teaching a large group of followers that He was the bread of life. He wanted them to understand that everlasting life comes from accepting His upcoming sacrificial death. This troubled most of the multitude. A humiliated, suffering Messiah didn't fit their understanding of God, and they began to murmur. Eventually they walked away.

At some point in our walk, we will come up against words Jesus spoke that are a little jarring. Or maybe something God said in the Old Testament will cause us to stop and wonder. God wants to reveal Himself to us. As He does show more of Himself to us, we will begin to see He cannot, will not, be confined to the safe boundaries we like to put Him in.

Jesus goes on to tell this crowd, What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? John 6:62

To paraphrase, "If you can't handle this, there's no way you're ready for the big stuff."

God is not going to change to accommodate our notions of who He is or who He should be. So what do you do when you hit one of these things that rocks your theology? First, make sure it is a correctly interpreted Biblical truth and not just someone else's opinion. Check cross-references. Scripture NEVER contradicts itself, although our interpretations can't sometimes be off. Ask mature people you trust.

Then once you're sure you have understood what God said, you have a choice to make. Accept that you need to change your ideas and acknowledge who He is, or walk away.

After the crowds trickled away, Jesus asked the 12 if they were leaving too. Peter, without hesitation, replied, "Where else can we go? YOU have the words of eternal life."

They were glad they stayed around. You will be too.