From Reed to Rock

   

TEXT:

‘I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God’s straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master’ (2 Peter 1:1 MSG)

THOUGHT:

Simon Peter is one of the twelve apostles we can more readily identify with. At times he put his foot in it, but on other occasions he got it exactly right. Today’s Teaching is a snapshot of his life which will help us to see the “Simon Peter” in all of us and what areas need attention.

1. Realisation – ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ (Luke 5:8)

This is our starting point. Unless we see ourselves as a sinner, we will never see the need for a saviour. Simon Peter had been introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew.¹ It’s wonderful when family members respond to our invitation to come.

After loaning Jesus the use of his boat, Peter heard His teaching and then experienced the miraculous catch of fish.² Peter’s despair over his sinful state was ignored by Jesus saying, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will catch men”. Jesus was really saying, I am going to take you as you are and turn you into something you are not!

So if Simon became Peter in the same way as Jacob became Israel³, this should encourage us as Christians that God has not finished with us yet and can overcome any obstacle we think will disqualify us!

2. Restriction

It’s when we start to move forward in the plans and purposes of God that issues start to arise, which unless dealt with, will restrict our usefulness to God. I have highlighted three areas in which Simon Peter needed to change course on.

• Interpreting Scripture

When Jesus started to show His disciples from the scriptures that the Messiah would suffer and die, Peter rebuked Him for saying such things. Jesus’ reply of, ‘Get behind Me Satan’ must have shaken him to the core.⁴ We need to agree with scripture whatever we feel, for if I and the Bible disagree, I am wrong! Peter later wrote, ‘Desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow’ (1 Peter 2:2). He knew the importance of taking God’s Word as it is.

• Harbouring Unforgiveness – ‘At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”’ (Matthew 18:21 MSG)

Anyone growing up with siblings can understand Peter’s question, who thought forgiving seven times would be more than enough. Jesus’ reply of “Seventy times seven” was a shock. In other words, forgive others as much as we need God to forgive us. When we do not forgive the past, it remains the present and will always affect our future. Is there anyone you need to forgive? From your heart, do it right now!

• Pride and Ambition – ‘What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest’ (Mark 9:33-34)

It is dangerous to think more of ourselves than we should or compare ourselves with others. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.⁵ Notice from our text how Peter called himself ‘servant’ before ‘apostle’ and stated about his readers, ‘Whose experience of God is as life-changing as ours.’ He had learned his lesson and wrote, ‘Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ (1 Peter 5:6).

3. Restoration – ‘So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers’ (Luke 22:32 TLB)

How do we react when we do the opposite of what we had publicly stated? Is God finished with us? No, for He knew the future when He first chose us! On resurrection morning the angel told the women, ‘Tell His disciples and Peter’ (Mark 16:7). Thank God, Simon the denier became Peter the declarer on the Day of Pentecost.

4. Revelation

It’s wonderful when the Holy Spirit reveals to us things about the future. This is clearly seen in Peter’s life.

• Concerning who Jesus really is

Peter wrote about the Mount of Transfiguration experience as ‘We were eyewitnesses of His majesty’ (2 Peter 1:16). When he said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God’ (Matthew 16:16-17), Jesus commended him for having had this revelation from God. We can only truly believe in Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.

• Concerning his sphere of ministry

The Apostles had only been preaching the gospel to the Jews, but Jesus died for the whole world. God gave Peter a wonderful revelation that led him to Cornelius’ house and that was the starting point of the Gentiles getting saved. He wrote, ‘God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe’ (Acts 15:7). It is important to know that what we are doing is what God has revealed for us to do.

• Concerning his suffering and ultimate death

Once Peter had said he was ready to die with Jesus but he was not and chose to deny Him instead. Later, filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness, he fearlessly confronted the religious authorities without a thought for his own safety.

Later still he wrote, ‘The Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that my days here on earth are numbered, and I am soon to die’ (2 Peter 1:14 TLB). Death no longer held him in its fear. He was ready to depart whenever and whatever the exit route God had in mind.⁶

Thank God for Simon Peter! God was able to transform him from shifting to solid, from a reed to a rock. He can do the same for and with you!

Endnotes:

¹ John 1:35-42             ² Luke 5:1-11               ³ Genesis 35:10           ⁴ Matthew 16:21-23

⁵ 1 Peter 5:5                ⁶ John 21:18-19