Luke 22:31-34 New American Standard Bible 1995
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has [a]demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
One of our foremost weaknesses as mere mortals is to overstate our courage.
So often, we fail to realize the power of fear – why else would the Bible contain so many commands not to be afraid?
Peter’s intentions were upright and genuine, but, underneath all his bravado. the power of discouragement, despair, disillusionment, and fear was greater.
What commitments have you made to the Lord that you did not keep?
Even though Peter had denied his Lord three times, the Lord worked in Peter’s life so that he would not be destroyed.
He can do the same for you in your times of failure and loss.
If our faith journeys had mantras, mine would be, “Put me in, Coach!”
I have always been chomping at the bit for God to put me in the game. If the world was a soccer match, I’d be the player on the sideline, jumping up and down with my hand raised screaming, “I’ve got this! Pick me! Pick me!”
Sure, my footwork could use some precision and my endurance could stand a boost, but what I lack in raw talent I am certain I can make up for in spirit.
This is how I imagine Simon Peter, too. Peter was the disciple who boldly named Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 16:16), who jumped out of his boat to walk on water towards Jesus (Matthew 14:28-30), and then who leapt out of his boat again to reach Jesus on the shore after his resurrection (John 21:7).
He is impulsive, zealous, and earnest, seemed to be eager to be used by God.
But on the night of his betrayal, Jesus turned to Peter and told him that Satan had demanded to “sift him like wheat,” and that he had prayed that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:31-32).
Indignant, Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33).
It’s clear he believes his faith is immovable, solid as the rock he’s been named for; that in this moment, he cannot conceive the possibility that it will falter.
This moment is important because it shows that our own understanding of our own capacities, abilities, and firmness of faith is not always in alignment with reality. Peter seemed to truly believe that he would go to prison or even death alongside Jesus, but when the moment of testing came, he was just not able.
Yet Jesus always knows the state of our hearts and content of our character more clearly than we see it ourselves. He indicates this in the conversation with Peter when he predicts he will, in fact, deny him three times before morning. (Luke 22:34).
But here’s something else Jesus sees which we ourselves can not see: our innate capacity to bounce back stronger, more mature—to where we will be, someday.
Jesus doesn’t turn to Peter and say,
“You may or may not make it through this trial. Your faith may or may not crumble. Who knows how things will turn out for you?” He says, “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32, emphasis mine).
He is certain Peter will not only return with a renewed faith, but that he will also have grown in such a way that enables him to strengthen his brothers, too.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Like Peter, we often think we’re ready for things when we are not.
We say things like, “Lord, I’m ready to lead,” or “Lord, I’m ready for [insert new opportunity or challenge here].”
We are so certain in our own capacities—and resolute in our spirits—that we become frustrated when he makes us wait. Doesn’t he see us jumping up on the sideline, saying, “Put me in, Coach?” Doesn’t he see that we are willing and able?
We can see only what we think we want, what we think we should be able to do.
But the fact is, Jesus understands our hearts and abilities better than anyone.
And not only that, he sees the beginning and ending trajectory of our lives, and the version of the person he’s helping us to become. In just a blip, he can survey the situation in its totality, seeing the synergy of our past, present, and future.
When he asks us to wait, it might be he’s still working on something within us. He recognizes our zeal and spirit—good and wonderful things!—but he’s not just in it for a soccer match. He’s playing the long game. (He’s in it for eternity.)
Today, if you’re feeling ready for a new challenge or opportunity and can’t understand why God hasn’t “put you in yet,”
try asking him these simple questions:
Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible 1995
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any [a]hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
God, what are you doing in my life that I can’t see?
Would you give me a sense of what you’re working on while I wait?
You will be surprised to find he not only understands the longings of our heart, but he also might even teach you something you didn’t know about yourself.
Proverbs 3:5-8 New American Standard Bible 1995
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your [a]body
And refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 16:1-9 New American Standard Bible 1995
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the [a]motives.
3 [b]Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for [c]its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the [d]fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
However, we should take the warning given to Peter as our own. When we feel most secure in our strength and courage, we are too often most vulnerable. Our own strength must come from the Lord and not our feelings of invincible faith.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
Psalm 28 New American Standard Bible 1995
A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer.
A Psalm of David.
28 To You, O Lord, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
When I lift up my hands toward [a]Your holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who work iniquity,
Who speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.
4 Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;
Repay them their [b]recompense.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is [c]their strength,
And He is a [d]saving defense to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 