Good Ol’ Pete

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Someone said the only thing consistent about Peter was his inconsistency. He could go from high to low in a heartbeat. Like the stormy day on the Sea of Galilee. One minute, faith-filled, he walked on water. The next minute, fear-filled, he sank. Or take the Upper Room. One minute he didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. The next minute, he blurted out, “Not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" One minute he promised he would die before ever forsaking the Lord. The next minute, cursing like a sailor — or like a fisherman in this case — he vehemently swore he had never even heard of Jesus. One minute he lashed out with his dagger to defend Jesus. The next minute, like a coward, he ran away. Consistently inconsistent, that’s good ol’ Pete.

How quick we are to point out Peter’s inconsistency and often overlook our own. One minute we’re deeply religious. The next minute, we’re a million miles away. One minute our minds are made up to be a faithful disciple of Christ. The next minute, we lose our resolve and fall back into the same sinful habits.

If it were up to me, I’d have wiped my hands of Peter. But not Jesus! When Peter sank, Jesus reached out and lifted him up. When Peter denied the Lord, the Lord graciously restored him. I don’t think Peter ever got over the depth of Christ’s love and forgiveness offer to him. Later, he would write to dispersed and suffering Christ followers, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” [1 Peter 5:10].

Like ol’ Pete, we are called to be disciples of Jesus. And because the Lord died on the cross of Calvary and rose from a cold, dark tomb, there is sufficient grace to live like one. 

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter… Matthew 10:2