Have you ever started to do something which you knew would take courage and you chickened out? I have. Have you ever said something insightful then shortly afterwards, opened your mouth and inserted your foot? I have. I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite historical people who I get hope from because struggled in the same ways that I have. Then he went on to accomplish great things. So, there is still hope for me.
The person I am writing about is Peter. In Matthew there is a story about Peter stepping out with great courage to do the impossible. At first everything was going as planned. Peter to a step of faith, literally and figuratively, and started to walk on water. A few steps into this walk he became afraid and began to sink. “And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 14:28-31(ESV) At the end of the story Peter cries out to Jesus to be saved. Something I have done many times in my own life. Jesus saves Peter but also asks Peter why his belief turned to doubt. I realize in my life I to have doubts but also a belief and true hope that Jesus will always be there for me. Is Jesus there for you? If not, Jesus will be there for if you believe in him as your personal Lord and Savior.
The next story about Peter can also be found in Matthew. It is the story of Peter’s great confession of faith. “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” Matthew 16:16-18 (ESV) What an amazing statement of faith. How important that Jesus said in this statement about Peter’s words. WOW!
So, Peter just made one of the most insightful statements in history and then turns around and inserts his foot in his mouth. After Jesus explains to His disciples that He was going to have to die and be raised from the dead Peter comes down with foot in mouth disease. “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’” Matthew 16:22-23 (ESV) Peter’s statement was so incorrect that Jesus accused him of being under the influence of Satan. Peter had lost sight of the purposes of God. Oh, how quickly one can change. I know I have changed like that. Have you?
The story about Peter that gives me great hope is in Acts. After Peter has gone up and down with his faith in Jesus, he is called upon to preach a sermon to a crowd in Jerusalem. The result of his message on Pentecost was “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41 (ESV) From there Peter goes on to preach the Gospel, heal the sick and lead the Church. My hope comes from knowing that even as flawed as I am, I too can advance the Kingdom of God. How about you, do you have the same hope?
Join me in advancing the Kingdom of God like Peter did. Ultimately reaching out to Jesus and the Holy Spirit for help. Being confident that God gives us all we need. Hope is part of the gifts that God gives you when accept Jesus. Understanding that the hope you have is because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfying the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfies all my sins from the past, in the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because wisdom shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
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