Prayer Journal
Tuesday, October 17, 2000
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you will have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Pet 1:22
Simon Peter is an interesting individual to say the least. His life makes a great case study in radical contradictions. For example, most know him as the disciple who walked on water. But also consider that he was the one that fell into the water by reason of his lack of faith.
You may also recall he was the disciple to pledge allegiance to Jesus, "Even if I must die, I will never deny you." Later, he failed to acknowledge he even knew Jesus. Then we are told in Acts 4:12, that after the "religious" group jailed Peter overnight, they probed him, "By what power or what name did you do this?" Peter replied unashamedly, "by the name of Jesus Christ."
Yes, Peter had his "ups and downs" in his walk with Christ, but he finished "up" and we can be encouraged by his example. If anything, Peter was sincere - sometimes sincerely right and other times, sincerely wrong. But God faithfully shaped Peter into a vessel of honor that brought glory to His name.
Jesus called him "rock" and told him that He would build His church from the foundation of the kind of faith he displayed. Jesus also told Peter to be a "shepherd" the other disciples after He had ascended to heaven. This is quite a stretch from the one who "sheepishly" looked at Christ across the flame of the campfire to deny knowing him.
There was a time when Peter and Paul had their differences but they later reconciled becoming close friends - united as brothers in the faith. If you can identify with the life of Peter, you will surely be encouraged by the exhortation of his last letter;
"Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him." 2 Peter 3:14b,15
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
