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Good Intentions
WOW, this passage always sends chills down my spine! Here is Peter who we know loved Jesus and I really do think that he believed in his heart that he would go anywhere for Jesus. Yet, Jesus knew that under the circumstances Peter would buckle and deny him. It was easy for Peter to say he would defend and go through anything because the pressure cooker wasn’t hot yet. He was strong at that moment when he told Jesus that he would go to prison and to death with him. But Jesus knew that in his heart there would be fear and when the heat was on he would deny him, not once, not twice but three times. Can you imagine being Peter, knowing how you feel at that moment and then having Jesus tell you, nope you’re going to do the exact opposite!
I can somehow imagine… how many times have I gone to church and heard a challenging message that I know I need to apply to my life? Right then and there I commit to making changes and keeping Jesus first in my life. I leave church with every good intention. I am going to live this out, I can feel the fervor and fire within me… I am going to do this!!! Everything starts off great, but then life’s routine somehow gets in the way. Then before I know it, I have forgotten the commitment I made and have moved away from what I know I need to do to allow God to work in my life. Whether through fear, business or laziness, I’ve allowed other things to become idols and take the place of Christ.
Thankfully, God forgives and gives us a second chance. After all, Jesus did tell Peter that he would be the rock that the church would be built on and the gates of hell wouldn’t overcome it! I am thankful that in spite of my shortcomings, God continues to mold and fashion me into His image.
Sometimes, I am Peter, Thomas, John, or Paul. But my heart of hearts belongs to Jesus.
I remember his Word – I believe He brings it into my memory, and I have faith in the Holy Spirit and the work of sanctification.
I second your Wow! So often I ‘feel’ after church that I am on fire for God then the week begins and I am so busy. The ‘feeling’ just didn’t get me going well enough. My prayer is that my heart will stay on Him first and foremost. I am thankful for the love and patience He showed to Peter. It just lets me know I to may come around and do wonderful things for Christ, too!
Good thoughts Jeanne….just to clarify though, did Jesus mean Peter would be the rock the church would be built on or was it Peter’s confession? Or was Jesus referring to himself as “this rock”?
I should have clarified. Peter is not the actual “rock” that the church is built on, but when Jesus said that, He did change his name from Simon to Peter (which means rock) and he most likely was the first apostle and delivered the first “sermon” on the day of Pentecost. My point was simply that even though Peter denied Jesus 3 times, God still used him mightily to establish the very first church.