Jesus Loves the Peter in Each of Us

So great is His love and mercy! Knowing all that Peter would do and not do, He still chose him to be the rock upon which He would build His church.

Sometimes we deny Jesus. Maybe with our lips as Peter did, “And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Or by the way we live our lives: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Sometimes we give in to the thoughts of Satan. “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’”

Sometimes we go back to our old ways and forget for a time all that the Lord has shown us. “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”

Sometimes we let the fear of criticism stop us from standing on the truth of the Word of God. “For before that certain came from James, he [Peter] did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.”

Despite all Peter’s failings toward the Lord, Jesus still called him out of darkness. He still gave him power to heal and to deliver. He still chose Peter as one of three to see Him in all His glory at the Mount of Transfiguration. He still bestowed upon him the power to walk on water. He still loved him and His grace was ever present through all Peter’s trials and sufferings.

Not only is Peter the rock upon which Christ’s church is built, against which even the gates of hell shall not prevail! But, he is the prime example of our own humanity and the love of God that will never leave us nor forsake us. Forget all of our inadequacies. For it is in our weakness that He is made strong! Hallelujah!