I Am Peter.

I have always had trouble with the whole Peter denying Jesus thing. It sometimes discomforts me. Why would Jesus love someone like that?

Especially in this conversation:

 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ³³ Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:31-34

Peter lies to Jesus, but Jesus loves him anyway.
Are you ever afraid to tell Jesus you will follow Him till the death no matter what? Is it because you don't want to be like Peter and lie to the Lord {without knowing it}?

Well, Beloved. We are just like Peter. Jesus doesn't have to love people like us... and Peter, but He does.

''Peter is the rock on which God built His church. But first, Peter was probably the worst disciple ever. I am Peter. Jesus tells Peter that he {Peter} will deny Him 3 times; Peter says, ''No! I love you, I could never deny you, Lord.'' Yet we all know that Peter does in fact deny Jesus three times...................
Do I, like Peter, deny Jesus the glory that is His?   Jesus told His disciples that it was God's will for Him to be arrested. He went willingly when the soldiers came to take Him, but enthusiastic, loving Peter raised his sword and cut off a soldier's ear. ''Put your sword away,'' Jesus commanded. ''Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'' I am Peter. I have my own time frame. When I don't see things happening, I try to make them happen..................'' ~Taken from Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis.

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. ~Luke 22:61-62

Peter remembered what he had done after Christ had looked at Him. We do that don't we?
We go after our calling... and then we forget. Therefore, we sin. Then, the Lord reminds us of our covenant with Him and our grief overtakes us. ''And he went out and wept bitterly.''

You see some of us are thinking, ''I'm glad I wasn't Peter.'' In all seriousness, we weren't. We have not seen the Face of Love--yet. We did not see His blood flow, but we are cleansed by His blood and in that we boast.  Can you imagine looking into His weary eyes when suffering after denying Him? BUT in this way we are exactly like Peter... We are prideful. We have unbelief. We remember. Then we forget.

We are also like those soldiers that beat Christ with a whip, but rather with our sins. We are like those soldiers who hammered in his nails. We at one point in our lives screamed ''Crucify Him!''

But yet... His love it never gives up; It never runs out on us.

Mother Mary's got a broken heart, from the words they're saying
Her baby boy's being torn apart, by the world He's saving,
He says Mother, don't cry for me. You know where I'll be. ~It's Alright -Brandon Heath

''After Jesus had risen, He appeared to His disciples while they were fishing. When Peter saw His beloved Savior, he excitedly jumped out of the boat and began swimming to where Jesus stood. Needless to say, the boat probably reached the shore long before Peter. I am Peter- excitedly jumping into things and then standing, sopping wet, at the feet of the Lord, smiling at my stupidity...... Every time, though, just as with Peter, Jesus welcomes my soaking wet self into His arms and is simply happy to see me. I am Peter who made many mistakes, but I am Peter for whom God had great plans, whom God established to do His work. Peter is the rock on which Jesus built His church. The very night when Peter foolishly jumped out of the boat, Jesus reinstated Him in the presence of the other disciples. ''Do you truly love me?'' He asked. ''Then feed my lambs.'' ''Do you really love me? Take care of my lambs.'' ''Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep and come follow Me.'' For each time I deny God the glory that is His, for each time I follow my will instead of listening to His, for each time I jump ahead without first consulting the Lord, He asks, ''Daughter, {son} do you truly love me?'' and I do.  ''Feed my sheep.'' And I will. And I do.......... I am Peter. I mess up. I make mistakes, I am far from perfect, and  God will use me. God will establish great things through me. You are Peter. God already knows that you will make a mess, but His plan for you is great. Go. Feed His sheep.'' ~Also taken from Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis.

Be encouraged today, treasure. God uses the weak to shame the wise. He built His church on Peter... enthusiastic, foolish, unbelieving, his-own-way-or-the-highway type of guy, but He desired to follow Jesus.  Peter was a peculiar treasure, indeed. Don't you agree?

Go. Feed His Sheep. He can use you; just have an obedient heart and follow HIS timing.
And remember, if Jesus loved Peter, He loves you, too.

Victum of Grace,
Emilee