WWPD?

As I prep for teaching a series on the apostle Peter, I find myself trying to mentally walk in his shoes and thinking, "How would Peter react to a given situation?" I say react because Peter had a real proclivity for being reactionary (as opposed to proactive). Forethought wasn't Peter's forte.

For example: Jesus calls Peter out of the boat. Peter reacts by walking on the water.

Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah. Peter reacts by offering to build them a tent.

Roman guards arrive at the garden to arrest Jesus. Peter reacts by lobbing off a centurion's ear.

Scripture doesn't tell us Peter considered these things and then acted. Peter worked off impulse.

And, boy, did he ever mess up!

And yet... "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19, NIV).

Why would Jesus choose such an impulsive individual to be "the rock" upon which He builds His church? Generally speaking, while Peter's actions tended to be wrong / mistaken, his heart was right. He wanted to please Christ. He wanted to do right. But Peter tended to get in his own way.

Don't we all.

Maybe God isn't looking for the most able. Maybe what's more important is who is the most willing.

(c) 2008 by Chris & Jennie Courtney. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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