Daily devotion – Peter – Australian?
The Apostle Peter is an enigma to many believers. But to me he represents so many Australian Christian believers in his love and devotion to Christ.
Raw, emotional, often overzealous, at times speaking without thinking but He was devoted to Jesus His Saviour. Even on the night he denied the Lord, as we wade through the text in Mark 14, we see Peter in all his rawness stumbling again, but he is not leaving Christ.
Just six months earlier it had been Peter who said, Mar 8:29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Peter loved the Lord this cannot be denied!
Peter followed Jesus to the court of the High Priest when all others bar John kept away. John was able to enter the court of the high priest without fear as he was in fact related to the high priest at that time.
Remember Peter was the one who had drawn his sword, ready to fight to the death for Jesus!
He like so many, ‘wrong things are done from a right impulse sometimes are they not?’
It was Moses who instead of obeying the Lord and speaking to the rock for water to come forth instead struck the rock twice – Numbers 20:11 – this caused the Lord to disallow Moses from entering the Promised Land!
Peter would deny he knew the Lord and Peter would lie about His faith in Christ.
But Peter’s love for Jesus never failed – his faith and his love for Jesus never failed!
For this is what Jesus had specifically prayed for Peter – Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Is that not amazing?
That night as Jesus was being moved on, His eyes caught Peter’s eyes in the gathered crowd.
Let us never forget that the look of Jesus would have been wasted on Peter, if it had not been that Peter was looking at Jesus – and their eyes fixed!
In our imperfections Christ does the wonderful work of the potter and our lives are the clay. He is gradually moulding and shaping us even in our weakest moments!
Our salvation is sure and we cannot lose what God has graciously given to each of us – He makes sure of that!
This is what makes Christianity and our walk with Christ the most remarkable of all relationships!
May you walk with Him today and tomorrow. May you know that His eyes are locked on you. Even in your stumbling’s just keep your eyes on Him and your eyes too will lock together!