December 2009

Part 4

The Promise

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,
Luke 22:31-32.

This passage contains three promises we need to meditate upon and receive. The Lord Jesus told Peter; 1) his faith would not fail, 2) he, Peter, would return to the Lord, 3) and he, Peter, would be used in God’s service to strengthen his fellow believers.

By all human appearances, the disciple’s faith did fail. But aren’t we glad God does not look at us through human eyes! Our Father, God, looks upon and within the heart. Yes, Peter did deny knowing the Lord Jesus and the others fled in the face of persecution. The disciples had failed to prepare themselves through prayer, and, therefore, succumbed to fear. Jesus had commanded His disciples to, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”, Matthew 26:41. The faith of the disciples may have faltered, but it did not fail!

The Holy Spirit resides within every Christian, instilling an innate desire to faithfully live for God. We may get knocked down by the trials of life, but the Holy Spirit will lead us back. We find the following promises within Scripture. “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity”, Proverbs 24:16. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand”, Psalm 37:23-24. This should not be taken as a license to sin and live recklessly, but to encourage each Christian that when we stumble and fall, we need not stay down!

Jesus knew they would return to Him. The Lord used the word ‘when’, not ‘if’, in His statement concerning their returning to Him. The disciples, especially Peter, repented of their sins of prayerlessness and succumbing to fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and returned to their walk with God and closeness with the Lord Jesus (read John 21). Thankfully, the Lord does not wash His hands of us when we stumble. He picks us up!

In the twenty-first chapter of John, it appears that Peter and his fellow disciples were overcome by a shroud of shame and a mindset of non-usefulness to the Savior. All who have stumbled and faltered in their walk with God can relate. God has worked though only One perfect person and His name is Jesus. All others have had flaws! However, Jesus did not discard His disciples, but came and reminded them of their commission to be His witnesses and to disciple those who believe in Him through their testimonies and the preaching of God’s word.

When Christians learn from mistakes made and share those lessons with others, the hearers are strengthened. Jesus’ third promise to use Peter and the other disciples was fulfilled. Peter became the fearless preacher of the gospel of Jesus in Jerusalem and Apostle to the Jews. He and his fellow disciples chose to suffer persecution as followers of Jesus Christ rather than deny Him again. Most died a martyr’s death. Because of their faithfulness, we have the privilege of the gospel and a relationship with God.

Thank You, Lord, for not giving up on us when we stumble in our walk with You. Thank You for the privilege to serve You, although we are imperfect. Henceforth, help us rely upon You and prepare ourselves for spiritual battle through prayer.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley