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Also in reviewing Peter’s life, we should be surrounding ourselves with other believers. The purpose of this is to realize that sometimes it can be hard to encourage yourself or pray for yourself. I’m talking about accountability here. As a Christian, this has been one of my toughest challenges in maintaining. Why? Because for accountability to work you must be transparent and open and there is barely, if any, room for pride. Accountability means that at all costs you give permission to someone that loves you to get up in your face when you want it or don’t want it. Jesus did that for Peter. When Peter through the work of the Holy Spirit revealed that Jesus was the Messiah and was told that the church would be founded upon that principle truth, he was subsequently rebuked (see Matthew 16:16-18;22-23). Why? I’d like to think that Peter just started being Peter again. He allowed the Holy Spirit to use him to reveal that awesome truth in the presence of Jesus and the other disciples, and maybe it went to his head. Who knows? But I think the important thing to realize for me is that I haven’t and will never “arrive”. I will never be beyond rebuke. And I need people around me to “bring me back down to earth” when I get caught up in myself. That is my idea of good accountability. These same individuals should have the ability to pick me up when I think I’ve blown it. Jesus did this for Peter in John 21 (I referenced this earlier). Other followers of Jesus (Mary Magdalene and company) did this for Peter also in following the angel’s instructions to “tell his disciples and Peter” in Mark 16:7. There is a great benefit is having good company around you.

Just this past week I spent some time reviewing the story of Abraham. The story intrigues me in several ways and my life mirrors it in several aspects. So when I’m confused or need direction from God, I refer to it often. And at the point of my most recent study, I was taken back to when Abraham took his only son Isaac up to worship God on the mountain. Many of you may be thinking that he took him up to sacrifice him. This is true. But true worship always involves sacrifice. This is what Peter realized at the fireside fish dinner (see John 21:9-17). You see in looking back on Peter’s life it seemed the only that separated Peter from mediocrity and greatness was himself. This is the case with all of us though. If we can just allow our pride and selfish motives to be laid down, God is ready and willing to use us tremendously. But in context of that day, many Jews including some of the disciples expected Jesus to deliver them from the hand of the Roman rule. They may have had misplaced motives of what this would mean for their careers and ambitions. All the while though they followed along hearing his teachings and you have to think at a point they were at a precipice with this question…What now? Do I continue on and follow this Jesus with my own agenda in the back of my mind with the subsequent disappointment it brings? Or do I whole-heartedly accept his message and pick up my cross and truly follow him. All the disciples had to make that decision in the garden of Gethsemane. This was the precipice. And they all fled, including Peter. And we like them are given a question as to how we will follow Jesus. Will we forsake all we know and love to follow him, or will we tag along half-heartedly? True sacrifice is what God wants from us. Remember the words of Jesus, Do you love me? Then feed my sheep. I hear those words as, “will you serve me, Dominique?” Does your desire to worship me involve sacrifice, Dominique? And what is the sacrifice? You. Honestly speaking this is a hard answer to give. My own answer is not always yes. But God in his awesome mercy gives us opportunity after opportunity so that we can see what is truly in our heart. That is what Abraham experienced on the mountain with Isaac. From that he was able to be the father of many nations. And that is why Peter was able to proclaim the gospel in Acts 2:14-41 boldly because he had been through the beach experience and learned the meaning of sacrifice. He also learned that God can still use you when you think you’ve blown it.

Dear God I realize that I am not what I should be in you, but I trust that you are continually conforming me to the image of your son Jesus Christ day by day. Help me to endure the process so that I can be used of you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Suggested Scriptures:

John 21:15-19

Philippians 1:6

Genesis 22:1-14

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Called To Brokenness