Thanks for being with me this week! Today we end our week of exploring biblical heroes with one of my favorites, Peter. Throughout the gospels, Peter’s interactions with Jesus, and the disciples, reflect a leader who is impulsive, ambitious, self-assertive, and quick to commit… without fully understanding the meaning of Jesus’s words or actions. Peter is a great reminder to us that we are weak in the flesh, but strong in the spirit. – Jen
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Transcription:
Thanks for being with me this week on the Bible for Busy People podcast. Today we end our week of exploring biblical heroes with one of my favorites, Peter. Throughout the gospels, Peter’s interactions with Jesus and the disciples reflect a leader who is impulsive, ambitious, self-assertive, and quick to commit, without fully understanding the meaning of Jesus’s words or actions. Peter is a good reminder to us that we are weak in the flesh, but strong in the spirit.
The Peter who hid in feared just before the crow of a rooster, who walked on water until he didn’t, gives us some beautiful direction for our lives in two Peter one, five through eight, it says,
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral [a]excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Author Ken Boa says, The man who called himself a witness of the sufferings of Christ in 1 Peter 5:1 was not there. When Jesus was hanging on the cross. He was hiding in fear. The man who calls us to be eager to serve in 1 Peter 5:2 remains seated while Jesus washed the disciple’s feet. The man who tells us that we should be clear-minded, and self-controlled so that we can pray. In 1 Peter 4:7 fell asleep while Jesus was sweating blood. The man who so boldly tells us, submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority. In 1 Peter 2:13 lopped off the soldier’s ear in the garden, according to John 18.
This Peter resonates with me. I get him. He’s exciting, fun, passionate, and all too often immature and misguided until he isn’t. Like David. His mistakes lead to repentance, maturity, and not only wise direction, but such wise direction that he leads the church and leads them well. Like Peter, it can take time and effort, but God does indeed transform us. We don’t have to be ashamed of the times we hid in fear, denied Christ, or began to sink because God will use it for good. And he can cover over our mistakes like when he healed the soldier’s ear. Like many great leaders, Peter survived himself. I love that. I know I’m going to survive myself too. I’m determined to get out of my own way and let God lead. I will add all the characteristics of 2 Peter 1:5-8 so that I will be useful and fruitful for God and his Kingdom. I mean, they come from a man who gets me, Peter, himself. So Lord, thank you for all we’ve learned this week. Thank you for the people you mentioned by name in your words so that we can grasp your Word. You are faithful and true, and we love you. Please continue to write our stories to your glory. Amen.
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