Have you ever felt led by God to walk away from something you knew and felt secure with? To walk toward the slightly familiar, slightly unknown? Peter did this.
Though Peter is described as a plain man in Acts, by Luke the physician, he actually came from a family whose fishing business was successful enough they hired workers and were partnered with James and John. When he walked away from the fishing business he walked away from security, but he walked toward the work Jesus asked him to do. (John 21)
In fact, the often quoted verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13 NKJV) reminds me of Peter.
Before the Spirit of God got a hold of him I notice his attitude takes on an "if he can do it then so can I" bent. Jesus walked on water, he wanted to do it also. (Matthew 14) Jesus said he was going to suffer, Peter offered to suffer until death with him.(Matthew 26) Of course, things being what they were Peter was shown he wasn't Jesus. He couldn't do the things only Jesus could successfully do.
Even still he was looked at as the leader. He is always mentioned first in the list of apostles. Was the one who inquired what kind of reward the apostles would receive. (Matthew 19) Asked for clarification of the parable in Matthew 15. Gave the confession of faith for the group in John 6 and Matthew 16.
And, have you noticed how often he shows a spastic energy causing him to speak and act before thinking: he was going to build tents on top of a mountain with no tools around (Matthew 17); he jumped off a boat twice, once to walk on the water, and once to reach Jesus before the others (never mind they were still a distance away from the shoreline so he had to swim the whole way) (Matthew 14, John 21); he wanted Jesus to wash his whole body not just his feet (John 13); he drew a sword and cut off a servant's ear as his form of attack on those arresting Jesus (John 18).
However, once the Spirit of God got a hold of him, he became the invincible man we know him to be. He spoke to a large multi-nation crowd right after the tongues of fire settled on him.(Acts 2) He was arrested for teaching and healing people.(Acts 4,5,12) He exposed the unrighteous pretending to be righteous.(Acts 5) He was thought of as a pillar of the church.(Galatians 2:9) He wrote two books to encourage and instruct believers. (1,2 Peter)
And, in the end, he stood strong when he was brought before the council in the sight of everyone. Not only did he admit he knew Jesus, he told the council he would not stop talking about him.
What a change! He did do all things through Christ. This makes me realize that if he can do it then so can we.
There are so many verses that talk about Peter. He is mentioned throughout the gospels, Acts, 1 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Peter.
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