I find myself being intensely focused on Peter this year during Holy Week and I know it's from the aspect of this study. We so often think of Peter as the ultimate disciple - I mean, hey, Jesus called him the rock. Yet so much of what happened in the final days could have kept him from reaching his full potential if he let his failures become fatal. He goes from the rock to being called Satan in 5 verses. Then he can't stay awake at the watch and finally he proves Jesus right (shocking! LOL) when he hides in a crowd and denies Jesus 3 times. And those are just the big ones. However, although he mourns his failure, he isn't bogged down by condemnation. He is convicted and this saddens him, but he can fail forward and get back up again because his confidence is found in Jesus. He knows who he was created to be because Jesus told him! So instead of falling to the same despair that Judas does, he stands tall and tries again, carrying Jesus' salvation to future generations. He is an absolute encouragement to me! God may not have stood in front of me and told me who He created me to be, but He did create me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He makes no mistakes and to quote the old song from camp, "God don't make no junk." He has created me for a purpose and He knit in me qualities that I am to bring to the body to make it whole. He has a plan for me and will carry on a good work in me. I just have to continue to get up again and keep trying.
Abba, thank you for helping me yet again, see something in the recount of Holy Week I've never seen before. Every time I read it, You make it fresh and new. Thank You for showing me how putting my confidence in You, I too can stand strong and live for You. Thank You for never giving up on me, but rather promising to complete Your work in me. I may not be who I want to be in You yet, but I am closer today than yesterday and with Your help I am growing. Thank you, Lord, Amen.
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