Peter, The Rock, The Denier Forgiven

We can learn a lot from Apostle Peter and I am not talking about Peter whom the Catholics venerated as the First Pope when he did not desire that. I am talking about Peter the Rock (Cephas), Peter the Fisherman, Peter the Disciple who Questioned His Master, Peter who Thought He Could Walk on Water Himself, Peter the Declarer, Peter the Denier, Peter the Forgiven, Peter the Valiant, and Peter the Man of God.
Peter was a simple fisherman whose life was turned upside down when Jesus came into his life. He was a gruff man who paid little heed to others and was more concerned with caring for his family than worship having no time for “frivolous activities”.  This sounds like some people we know today doesn’t it? Maybe even it was our own lives.   
Think of that moment that we read about of when Peter met Jesus for the first time. His brother told him about Jesus and still wanted nothing to do with him until that day when very few if no fish were being netted up. Jesus directed Peter to a place on the lake and told him to drop the nets there. Lo and behold, there were so many in the net it nearly toppled the boat.
 Lesson One: Listen to the Father because He truly does know best.
Peter was a bit hesitant and did not believe what Jesus was telling him to do at first. When He finally gave in and did what Jesus asked. The result, he fed the community for a week from the haul.  God guides us to do the right thing when we listen. There is no entitlement here. He desires us to listen and learn from the actions we do that follow His direction to us. If we do not listen, there is a good chance we will fail only to be picked up once we learn from our mistakes.
 
Then there was the moment that Peter walked on water when Jesus commanded him. Well, Peter got distracted by the world (the wind and rolling water) causing him to fall into the water. Jesus was there to lift him up and save him from drowning. Jesus exclaims, “Ye of little faith”.
Lesson Two: Keep your focus on the spiritual and not so much in the world, if you fall Jesus is still there, you just have to look.
Peter was distracted by the world around him and lost focus on what mattered most. As difficult as it is in this day and age, our focus should on Jesus. He is the one who saves us, His is the world beyond this one and we cannot take the current world with us. When we begin to rely on worldly things we change our faith and trust. Keeping our eyes on Jesus places Him deep within us so we won’t lose ourselves to sin.  
   
When Jesus asked the Disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter was the first to proclaim Jesus as Son of God.
​Lesson Three: Do not be afraid to speak truth of Jesus and share your Faith.
​When we proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, The Life, The Son of the Living God, Our Savior, we are telling the world where our loyalties and our faith lies. Do not be afraid to share Jesus. 

When Jesus told the Disciples that He must go into Jerusalem and Peter basically told Jesus it was a bad idea and Jesus berated him. What was Peter thinking?
Lesson Four:  You cannot stand in the way of God’s Plan (aka God is in Control not You)
God’s Plan is just that, His. Even with our free will we do not have a say in God’s Ultimate Plan for us. When God directs, go His way. If He calls, answer. I learned the hard way in my youth not to go against God’s Plan but after much soul searching and opening my ears and heart (and many bumps in the road) I broke down and listened closer than ever before. I have been faithful and He has blessed.
These first four lessons from Peter’s life with Christ. It does not stop there. Stay tuned later this week as we look at Peter’s reactions during Jesus last 24 hours and what happened after.