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Posts Tagged ‘truth’


“Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’

“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’

“But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’” (Matthew 26:33-35)

Peter (Simon) strongly contradicted what Jesus’ said to him. Maybe this wasn’t the first time, but if he truly believed Jesus was the Messiah, how could he refuse to accept what Jesus told him?

The parallel passage in Luke’s gospel includes a preceding portion of the conversation that gives us insight into Jesus’ posture toward Peter (Simon):

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32, emphasis mine)

Now go back and read the Matthew passage again in context of following these. Do you think Peter (Simon) really heard the next sentences from Jesus that Luke captured, or only the first? Perhaps he couldn’t see himself that way, as a terrified man, panicking, abandoning his friend to suffering, even death, to protect himself. Or perhaps, deep inside his heart, he had already considered the possibility and was terrified it might be true.

We all experience concealed moments of doubt, fearing what is actually true about our character, our identity, even our love. Would I act consistently with who I believe myself to be if someone I love was in danger? Or would the man I fear lingers in my flesh abruptly surface to take control, to preserve my self? This is a root of each person’s existence, a question silently murmuring in the background that we all carry into every day. But notice Jesus’ demeanor here – disturbed, no doubt, even grieving the agony soon to come between him and his dear, fervent friend. But not rejecting. Instead, in the midst of the mixture of joy and grief he must have been experiencing, Jesus provides him with evidence that the turning away will not be permanent; that he has already lifted his friend to God, strengthening his faith so that it will endure through the shock to his self-belief and the burning grief to come, and he will be able to resume his place with even more life.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

Jesus sees our mistakes and our pain, but he doesn’t stop there. His knowledge extends farther; back to the vision in his heart when he first thought of us before creation and beyond any situational turning away, to the day we will be restored. His work will not be thwarted, and I hope that you and I can also watch and listen for those comforting, subtle words from Jesus that wait on the other side of our own stumbling and grief. That we might notice them and don them as a cover of hope to cool and nourish our hearts until we’ve crawled through the searing flame of our fear.

Scripture Taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

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Many of us embrace our first perception of others’ words to us and react to our emotions that rise in that moment as if they thoroughly encapsulate the intent and essence of the other individual. In my life, cooperating with that often fuels an unnecessary and unconscious escalation of tension and misunderstanding, not to mention missing any benefit from the interaction.

But the Holy Spirit is teaching me a different way.

Beyond listening, he is reining in my pace and my self-centeredness, revealing and displacing my idol of efficiency, and showing me how to guard my heart even from my own assumptions. It’s just too easy – and gratifying to my flesh – to paint others’ words with my own shame, guilt, and unmet need, leading to inexplicable behavior on my part and wounding of the person I’m responding to. Assumptions are powerful, aggressive sirens concealing the sharp rocks of hurt like sweet fog, and the world and my flesh encourage me to just grab that initial interpretation without pausing to ask God. Waiting for truth and God’s perspective and insight to coalesce from the expression of another person just as disoriented as I; recognizing wisdom and godliness and relationship require time; letting love reign over impatience and fear; that is the way of Christ.

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