A gifted writer once said, “write what you need to read.” It has stuck with me for a good while. And what I’ve discovered is that I need to read something encouraging, full of hope and opportunity. I do not need to read something that is tragic or depressing or full of doubt. I need to read about David and Peter, Elijah and Paul. I need to know that in the midst of what seems to be a rough patch, God is there with me. Never leaving my side. I need to know that everything is going to be alright. That’s what I need to take from what I read. And I would venture to guess that it’s the same with many of us. We don’t need more bad news when we sit down to read. We can turn on the local news for that.
So, in the next series of posts, I’m going to focus on the good news. The things that spur us heavenward and encourage us in all things godly. And hopefully, it will spur you on to increased joy, better attitudes and to being better blessings to those that you encounter.
Today, since I’ve been studying him, I want to talk about Peter.
Yes, Peter from the Bible. You know – Simon Peter. That Peter. And from the outset I know you may be questioning how my first paragraph has now aligned with this paragraph but there is something that you need to read in Peter’s story.
When we first read about Simon Peter, Jesus is telling him to come after Him. And he did. He obeyed and became a disciple. And as we read his story, we come to find out that Peter was a mess! Just like some of us, Peter was rather impulsive and came across a little brash. He spoke without thinking and was extremely passionate, even when he was wrong. Are you drawing a character picture? Some of us will only need to look in the mirror. (If that’s you, smile and keep reading, please). We could go on and on about how Peter did unruly things in unguarded moments or even about how he denied Jesus, just as Jesus said he would. But what is more important is what became of Peter.
Jesus renamed Simon Peter to Peter, which means “rock.” Rocks are steady, hard, solid. They don’t seem to be very descriptive of Peter. But Jesus knew what would become of Peter. He would go on, after Jesus’ ascension to do great things for God. Yes, this impulsive, brass Peter would end up representing the Kingdom of God well. What you need to see when you read this is that even though Peter failed and fell at times, he got back up and kept following. When he made mistakes, God’s faithfulness compensated for his unfaithfulness. As Peter’s zeal for the Lord began to be backed up on the solid, steady and hard foundation of faith and understanding, his ministry thrived. And as proof of his ministry success, we now treasure 1 and 2 Peter in the New Testament.
1 Peter is a letter of encouragement to the saints – even through suffering. For he says “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” (1Peter 4: 1-2)
2 Peter is a letter of warning and exhortation. We are to be vigilant and watchful for false teachers and to be students of the Word for ourselves. He writes “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:1-4).
But don’t be deceived. Be a follower. Your walk may not be perfect – no, scratch that – you’re walk will not be perfect, but you still need to know who you are following. Follow hard after Christ. Everything else is a lie.
You don’t have to quit the Christian life because you make mistakes. Instead, God has given us a path to repentance through His Son. Follow Hard after Christ. Think about this – God loves each of us so much that He sent His Son to die for OUR sins. His Son, Who is blameless and perfect and holy, took our penalty. He is the ultimate sacrifice. He died for us. So, the appropriate response from us is to now live for Him. Your walk may resemble Peter’s but even after knowing what Peter was all about, Jesus’ last words to Peter were “follow thou me.” Peter wasn't perfect but his life's example can be mined to give us power!
So, we are left with no excuses. We need to follow Him. Whatever you have done, take the path to repentance and follow hard after Christ.
