PanicRev

I have been thinking a lot about the apostle Peter. Specifically, I have been thinking about how Peter seems to have a torn heart and torn commitment to Christ. It is almost as though within just a few hours we see two different Peters! Let me show you what I mean …

We find the first Peter in the Gethsemane, with Jesus and the other disciples. Peter and the other disciples should be praying; however, the Bible tells us that their eyes were heavy and they fell asleep. They only fell asleep to be awakened in the middle of the night just before Jesus is arrested. Peter, like a warrior, springs to action drawing his sword and cutting off an ear of one of the servants of the high priest. Peter seems eager to live out the words that he spoke to Jesus at the last supper, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Mark 14:33). In this setting, he was clearly ready to fight and even die for Christ! (Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 14:32-52, Luke 22:39-53, John 18:1-12)

Then just a few short hours later the second Peter emerges. Here we see Peter approached by a servant-girl who declares Peter was with Jesus. Peter denies to even know Christ. Peter goes on to deny Jesus three times before the rooster crows or before morning comes. (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-65, John 18:25-27)

After reading through all of these scriptures this week and reflecting on Peter, it is so clear to me the importance of being plugged in: plugged into Christ, plugged into the Word, and plugged into fellowship! We see Peter plugged into all of these things and ready to go to war for Jesus in the garden. He is with Jesus and is in fellowship with all of the other disciples. There is no sign of fear or a hint of being timid. Peter is ready for war; in fact, he takes action only to have Jesus stop him. In the garden we see a strong, though misguided, Peter. Peter was plugged in.

Later that night everything changes for Peter. He is no longer the warrior, but is now a timid sheep consumed by fear! Peter no doubt loves Christ and was even willing to die for him just a few hours before, but now Peter denies the very same Jesus. Other than a few hours, what was different? What caused such a dramatic change? Peter was now unplugged.

This Christian journey is impossible to do alone. We can clearly see Peter fell flat on his face when he tried to go it alone. I can tell you that I have fallen flat on my face early in my Christian walk trying to do it alone as well. I firmly believe we can’t be what God is calling us to be without being plugged in. I encourage you to plug in to Christ; plug into His Word, plug into His Church, and fellowship with His people! Let’s unite as His people and live in all that God is calling us to be!

Oh, and if you were worried about Peter … he repents, God forgives him, God restores him, and Peter goes on to change the world for Jesus. God wants you to repent, He wants to forgive you, He wants to restore you, and He wants to use you to bring change to this world for Him! Go be His hands; go be Christ’s feet! Plug in and orchestrate change. Walk in all that God has in store for you!