Trinity United Church of Christ Lenten Devotional for Thursday, March 26, 2015

1 Peter 1:9

“You are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls”.

by Kevan Franklin

 

What did walking around with Jesus do for Peter?

What can walking around with Jesus do for us?

 

 

Who was Peter?

                   What do you remember about Peter?

Peter couldn’t hide who he was on Jesus' final night around the fire.  He was short on courage and wisdom. 

What did that night of testing do to Peter?

 His denial of Jesus certainly wasn't his first challenge as a disciple.

 

Remember when Peter;

Sank into the sea

Mispoke at the Transfiguration

          Sent children away

          Cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant

Was accused by Paul of being hypocritical about eating with Greeks? 

Surely these moments caused Peter to think differently.

 

Peter messed up.   A lot!  So do we.  Our eyes are human.

Remember the walking on water test?

          Walking around with Jesus changes hard-headed people into humble people.  Peter learned to say, “I may be wrong..”

“I may not have the courage that God needs for the tasks of this day.”

But he also learned resilience.

 

As Peter reminded the faithful in Asia Minor, we also need to be reminded that every generation before us thought that they had all of the answers.  And they were wrong.  Very wrong, about all sorts of things.  It serves us well to do away with any intellectual arrogance that assumes that we already know everything, or that we even know the most important things.

 

Peter above all others knows that he doesn’t know.

All he has is the knowledge of Christ.

 

 

Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote these lyrics for the 1930 Dedication of Riverside Church in New York City ;

 

“Grant us courage, Grant us wisdom for the facing of this hour.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore."

 

Courage and Wisdom.—Peter’s plea in his letter.

 

Peter had denied and misunderstood and intentionally stood in the way of God’s will.

Peter found the salve he needed for his wounds.  He knew he was powerless.

Peter was powerless sometimes over his own captivity to the powers that be and he made bad choices.  Peter knew ultimately that all of us are captives to the power of death.  So Peter became a new person through his tests. 

He acquired the courage and wisdom for the facing of his hour.

What did walking around with Jesus do for Peter?

What can walking around with Jesus do for  us?

 

 

Lent check;

 

What is the outcome of your faith?

What difference does it make that you go to worship?

That you pray?

That you have hope?

That you try to see with the eyes of Christ?

Just walk around and look.

 

It meant everything to Peter. It saved his Soul.

 

May you find courage and wisdom for the facing of your hour.

 

Prayer;   O God of hosts,  You call us to walk with you. We know that there is much to see and do and learn.  Grant us wisdom and courage when our hour comes.  Amen.