Peter - an inspiration

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”  ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16: 21 – 23

I love the fact that over the next week after Peter’s well-meant but ill-judged rebuke of Jesus which showed a lot of pride and earned him a rather shocking rebuke in turn, Jesus showed Peter such grace. Within a week Jesus chose Peter, James and John to go up the mountain where he was transfigured.

Jesus didn’t hold Peter’s foolishness and pride against him but continued in his plan and purpose to bring the best out of him and use him for his glory. We all know Peter’s mouth constantly let him down but it was this impetuousness that Jesus turned around.  Even at the very moment of Jesus’ transfiguration, Peter was still coming up with his own ideas of building three booths or shelters so everyone could stay on the mountain. However Jesus never gave up on him.

After they came down from the mountain and Jesus healed the epileptic boy, some collectors of the temple tax approached Peter to ask if Jesus paid the tax. Peter confirmed that he did and Jesus sent him to the sea to catch a fish which would have a coin in its mouth to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17: 24 – 27).   Peter did not hesitate to obey, he just did it. Time and again Jesus did not hold Peter’s zeal against him, even when it was misplaced but used it to bring out the best in Peter.

After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus restored him and following the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that impetuous yet bold voice spoke to the crowd and 3000 got saved.

Jesus does not give up on us - ever - no matter our sins and weaknesses. So often the worse things in our character are also the strongest when in Jesus’ hands. Peter’s rashness turned into faith-filled bravery when anointed by the Holy Spirit. Peter’s weakness in speaking before he thought was also turned into the courage to step out of the boat when Jesus walked on the water.

Jesus takes our weaknesses and turns them into his strengths. His grace towards is endless and his patience with us infinite. Jesus will never give up on us so we must never give up on ourselves. We must never disqualify ourselves through our failings, perceived or real. We must give them into Jesus’ hands and let him with limitless grace turn them into great strengths which he will use to bring glory to himself.

Grace in our strengths

For it is by grace you have been saved.  Ephesians 2: 8

I became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3: 8

We are all very familiar with the fact that we are saved by grace; there is nothing we can do to save ourselves – it is all the work of God and we rejoice in this. However grace is so much more than the key to our salvation which unlocks the door to eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Grace not only saves us but enables us to ‘do the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do’ Ephesians 2: 10.  I think there can be a tendency to do the things we are good at in our own strength and then ask for God’s grace to help us in our weaknesses. We know when Paul was battling with his ‘thorn in the flesh’ he found that ‘God’s grace was sufficient for him, for God’s power is made perfect in weakness’ II Cor 12: 9.  However I also believe we need God’s grace to help us in our strengths.

Paul makes plain that he was a great Jew before his conversion and was faultless in legalistic righteousness (Philippians 3: 6).  He knew the law and he persecuted anyone who didn’t keep the law especially these new followers of the Way.  There was no grace! When Jesus met with Paul on the road to Damascus, he didn’t just save him by grace but he used him to write and preach such profound truths that Christians today are still poring over the Scriptures trying to fully understand the revelation that Jesus gave him. The Scriptures were his area of strength before his salvation, yet God’s grace touched this and transformed it into something that Paul could never have attained in his own strength and studies.

God has prepared wonderful works for us to do but we need his grace to touch our lives and transform them in order to do these works for his glory.  Many Christians I know who are used greatly by the Lord, just wonder at what he does through them. They say things such as, ‘I just and stand and watch what God is doing and am amazed.’ It is not false modesty but a genuine sense of wonder that God uses them even in their strengths and the result is something far greater than anything they could do. Their participation is vital but the outcome is divine.

God’s grace is waiting to touch and transform both our strengths and weaknesses so we may bear great fruit for his glory. Ask God to touch those areas of your life which are your strong points and be amazed at what God will do through you – so much more than you can ask or imagine.