by Robert Fudge

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

It seems that studying about Peter helps me. I guess it is because I can identify with his tendency to start talking before he began thinking. Or it maybe because he always seemed to have an answer for every occasion – or at least he thought he had the answer. Notice here that Peter even told Jesus that he was ready to fight to the death to defend Him. But before we judge Peter too harshly, remember that within a few hours of saying this, Peter did in fact draw his sword to fight. Remember too that it was against incredible odds, 12 men (counting Jesus) with one sword against an armed guard with probably over 100 soldiers. Peter meant what he said. So why then did Peter deny Jesus?

Jesus tells us the answer in the passage above. It was because Peter’s faith failed. Oh how I can identify with that! Just when I think I am really getting good at serving God and know that I am “ready to die” with Him, I (like Peter) deny Jesus. Well I don’t actually say that I don’t believe in Him. I just deny my identity as His disciple or my sonship with the Father in the way that I live or in the things I say. I Cor 10:12: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! Faith means humility and depending on God’s strength, not my own. The best teacher of humility is failure.

Maybe it was the peer pressure. Peter was in the midst of the enemies of Jesus when he denied Him. Maybe it was the direct questions they asked him. He was put on the spot and had to either “put up or shut up” so he cursed and swore and said “I never knew the man”. I am not sure that I can count the times that I have been confronted with opportunity to witness of my faith in Jesus but either kept silent or said what was politically correct. Is that any less a denial of my faith in Jesus?

Notice the attitude of Jesus toward Peter, even knowing what was going to happen. He told Peter that he would fail but that He was praying for him that this would make him stronger. Not only that but that this would help Peter to encourage his brethren. Yes, our faith fails at times but we can use these experiences to make us stronger and to help others to overcome their trials and to be an encouragement to those who need our help.

Dear God, help me today to open my heart to your love. Help me to use my failures, my lack of faith, my sin, to strengthen me so that I may be an encouragement to others. Help me, as Peter, to turn from my sin and use what you have given me to share the good news of the savior. Thank you for Jesus who was willing to give himself to do your will and to offer me forgiveness. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives in me and is constantly working on my heart and my life to make me more like you. Thank you for allowing me to talk to you boldly in the name of Jesus.

May God bless each of us today as we live for Him.