By Mignonette Bailey
The life of the Apostle Peter has always been intriguing to me. Peter seemed to always be THAT disciple—the one who spoke at the wrong time, said the wrong thing, and was often rebuked. I'm sure that after 3 1/2 years the other disciples were used to him jumping out there, only to come back with his tail between his legs. Sometimes his ventures paid off, like when He walked on the water with Jesus! Talk about bragging rights! He was the only one who could claim such an experience. But then there were times that we cringe as we read because we know all too well that Peter was setting himself up... again.
In Matthew 26:31-32, Jesus has just laid some pretty heavy words on his disciples, telling them that on this very night, all of his disciples would abandon and forsake him (be made to stumble). Cue Peter. In verse 33, he responds "...Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will NEVER be made to stumble." His words were well placed and I'm sure Peter's heart was in the right place, but there was just one problem, a problem that we all know all too well.
That is when our inward commitment is not stronger than our outward habits and character. Oh boy, it's about to get heavy. Jesus, responds to Peter prophetically in verse 34, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you WILL deny Me three times.” Peter comes back with even stronger resolve in verse 35 and says, "Even if I have to DIE with You, I will not deny You!" We see that in Matthew 26:69-75 that Jesus' words were fulfilled; Peter had done what he said he would NEVER do.
Sandwiched in between Peter's proclamation and denial was the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter was one of only three named who were present with Jesus during this solemn time. He was given simple instructions--WATCH and PRAY. I'm sure Peter was ready for something more exciting and even more challenging than just watch and pray! So he fell asleep. But when Jesus returned and found Peter, James and John asleep, he awoke them and said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, BUT the flesh is weak." What if Peter taken his assignment to “watch and pray” to heart? I’m honest enough to admit that I can be like Peter. Are you? We want the action and fireworks, but often, God's simple instructions are seen as dull and unexciting.
Now, I'm not coming down on Peter because there is a Peter in you and in me. How many times have we come to the Lord with the best of intentions and lofty promises only to find that we lack the inner strength to keep good on our word? We are three-part creatures; our spirit man composes 1/3, but the soul and flesh compose the other 2/3. Unless we strengthen ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer and build up the spirit man, the soul, which contains our human will, will gang up with the flesh against the spirit and we will fall flat on our faces, eating our words. Thank God that He has given us His Holy Spirit to help us to avoid such pitfalls! The question is, will we put in the time to watch and pray? Jude 20 tells us that we build ourselves up on your most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. When we pray in the Spirit as seen in Acts 2:4, we position ourselves for the following promise in Jude 24, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy".
Jesus knows what we are made of and He knew that we needed the Holy Spirit in order to grow up in the things of God and keep us from stumbling. The Holy Spirit made all the difference in Peter's life. He went from being a flippant and emotional decision maker to being a powerhouse for the church of Christ. Let the Holy Spirit make the difference in you by receiving Him into your life and communing with Him daily. As a born again child of God who has received Christ, He is available to you!
Scripture of the Day: "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them." - Acts 2:4
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