Impetuous Peter and the Journey to Self-Discovery in Christ

When you think of Peter, what is the first thing you think of? Cutting off a guy's ear? Standing in front of the "Pearly Gates"? 

Who was Peter? 

Impetuous Peter had a whole slew of qualities. Let’s look at some of them.

Peter walked on water; he slashed off a man’s ear. Peter recognized Jesus as the Son of God, and then he denied Jesus three times. Peter was a fisher of men, but could not watch and pray for a few hours. He was prone to legalism but dreamed of freedom from the law. He did not see the big picture before the crucifixion but preached on the day of Pentecost and thousands got saved. 

Peter ran from the horror of a trial and then hanged out in a cramped room full of believers in the days following Jesus’ death. Peter was a man of God and he had a temper. He was a fisherman and he was a brother. He was not rich but gave what he had. Peter heard a voice in the desert then followed a Savior. He was a twin with identity issues and he stood out to all those around him. He was prideful then let Jesus wash his feet. He failed then he was restored.

We are like Peter! 

Every time I think I have life figured out, I seem to find one thing or another to fail in and mess things up. Peter was no stranger to this phenomenon. But God still used Peter and He can use you and me! God uses the things the world puts no faith in, and He confounds conventional wisdom because there is success anyway, strength anyway, peace anyway.  

Peter was an Expert

Peter had something that we need. He had time with Jesus. I have heard it said that it takes 10,000 hours of work, research and time with a subject before you become an expert. That is 1 year, 1 month and 21 days (roughly) of one on one with the subject of study. Peter walked and talked, and was taught by Jesus for nearly three years. He was an expert. He was a believer. He was a founding apostle developing doctrine and teaching countless men and women throughout his life. And he still had issues.

So if all this is true, what does it mean for us? 

It means we can be an Impetuous Peter too. 

We can make mistakes, and have tempers, and fall on our face with pride issues, but if we continually surrender to God and allow Him to grow us, guide us, and lead us by the belt, then we can impact the world too.

Growing up I always thought of Peter as a weak willed man. He denied Jesus. I had no empathy at all for him. I could not figure out why Jesus went out of his way in John 21 to restore Peter and encourage him the way He did.  Part of my confusion was a lack of understanding the Jesus’ character, but now, I understand what it takes to be a real follower, and I know that Jesus is the lifter of my head. This was Jesus’ whole purpose on earth: restoration, forgiveness, and teaching. Now I realize that I am an Impetuous Peter, and I need restoration, forgiveness and understanding that can only come from Jesus.

I know that there is a long history and spiritual ancestry that is behind me. I know that like Peter, I will make mistakes. Like Peter, I have a calling on my life. Just as you do. For this purpose did I come, to testify to the truth!  

Like Peter I cannot get caught in the past, but have to allow myself to be renewed, and restored and made usable every day. I have to proclaim the glories of God and remind people the time is NOW.  Tall order? Maybe, but with God all things are possible.

So I want to close with a few questions.

1. Are you like Peter or is there another person in the Bible that you identify with more? Why?

2. What is your purpose? Have you defined who you are supposed to be in Christ yet?

3. Have there been moments in your life that made you think “That’s it, I really blew it now!” and made you feel like there could be no way you could move forward?

4. If you answered yes to #3, has there been a moment that Jesus restored you like in John 21? Reminding you there are things you still have to give and to do?

These are not easy questions. They are designed to make you think about your life and to press in to figure out first who you are in Christ and secondly to figure out what God has called you to do.  We overcome by the word of our testimony. I have to remember mine almost daily.

What is your story?

Lessons for a Gypsy

List out all you have done in your life and you may sound like me: a gypsy. I have been a waitress, a secretary, worked in retail, sold manufactured homes, drove a cab, was a professional Christmas tree decorator, an editorial assistant, a staff writer, a grant writer, a volunteer coordinator, a medical office manager, a mother, a wife, a friend, a parishioner and do you know what that qualifies me for? Me neither, but God does. What makes me qualified to do this blog? The world has one answer but God has another. Those He calls He qualifies. Let’s look at a perfect example: Joseph.

(Genesis 37-46 is the story of Joseph.)

The next to the last child, Joseph was loved dearly by his parents. His father looked on him with special favor, because he was the first child born of Rachel, who Jacob loved dearly. 

Now, this kid Joseph had a problem: he did not know when to shut up.

I so know what THAT is like, since I have the same problem on a regular basis.

Let’s face it, little brothers get picked on, and Joseph had eleven older brothers. Little brothers also like to prove themselves to their older siblings, and that is where Joseph’s real trouble all began.

Now some of you may say, no, wait, didn’t his trouble begin with a fancy coat? Well, an extravagant gift from his pops did bring him a lot of negative attention from the jealous brothers, but it was not the problem. The problem was Joseph’s pride, and pride is a heart issue.

If I can, please allow me this observation: when other people have a wrong opinion, or attitude and it is directed to us, we have to be mature enough to realize one thing- it is their problem. Our only responsibility is how we react to them, not how they feel about us, or what they think. We should not jump through hoops to please them or impress them. We should serve God, and be who He meant us to be, and let the rest be. (Matthew 6:33)

Joseph felt he needed to impress his brothers, to earn their respect by boasting about what God had showed him in a dream, instead of allowing God to work things out in His time. Let it go, and let God promote you.

Now- Joseph did have a dream: a God-given dream. One he did not, and could not, at the age he was (just a teen) understand fully. And that dream was eventually accomplished, but what a road Joseph had to travel to get prepared for the fullness of it.

He was sold into slavery, (Genesis 37:36) and Genesis 39:2 says “The Lord was with him”. He put his head down and worked, and he got promoted. Then the unthinkable happens.  He gets sexually harassed, and then falsely accused of rape. Joseph’s life quickly took a wild turn, but he held his own.

Remember: he had talked too much before, as a kid, but now he was silent. Joseph learned part of the lesson God had for him. He did not cry “victim” He did not seek “justice”: he was still, and to anyone looking on - it looked like he was not only guilty, but now not worth anything. Now he was just another convict, a nobody: not worthy of esteem, respect, or trust, but Genesis 39:21 says the Lord was with him.

Have you felt like this? Like the world sees you as less than? Or worse yet, have you felt like they didn’t see you at all? Have you felt like things just are not working in your favor, because they are not going according to your plan or timetable? Do not give up. Press on. Keep going. Keep serving. (Genesis 40:4)

Joseph did and eventually he not only got free of the holding pattern his life seemed to be in, but he was promoted to the second highest office in the land. He interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, and he gave God the glory. (Genesis 41:16)

 “Pursue the desire of your heart in the name of Jesus, giving glory to God in both the big and the small things, and you will be in the will and call of God for your life”- Pastor Jimmy Kirby.” (What do you Mean…?)

This is the promotion that leads to the eventual fulfillment of Joseph’s very first dream. Do you think Joseph thought his life would take so many turns before his dream was achieved? He was thrown into a well, sold into slavery- twice, falsely accused of a crime, imprisoned, forgotten and discounted as unworthy. BUT GOD! God was with him, and God is with us!   Do not doubt that! Do you think that while all this stuff was going on, Joseph saw the big picture? No, but God did.

So when you are locked in that cubicle, or imprisoned in circumstances you feel like are insurmountable, remember Joseph and the lessons we can take from him.

Lesson one for a gypsy: Don’t let our pride get in the way.  (Proverbs 16:18)

Lesson two for a gypsy: God is for us –so who can be against us?  (Romans 8:31)

Lesson Three for a gypsy: Serve no matter where you are. (Genesis 40:4)

Lesson Four for a gypsy: Give God the glory in all things, big and small. (Genesis 41:16)

As you travel through life my fellow gypsies, you are being prepared, so what lessons are you paying attention to? 

Be blessed and be a blessing and remember that prepare is a verb.