I think Peter, the disciple, gets a bad rap. He’s often talked about for making quirky comments, or speaking too fast, or for being the one who failed at walking on water. But I love this man!
If we will take a look at his journey and quit pointing fingers, we’d soon see how much we have in common with him. This crazy guy who said he’d follow Jesus anywhere he went and then changed his mind, yes I believe that sounds like you and I. Or the Peter who just saw Jesus perform miracles, and then failed to believe Jesus could keep his feet atop the water when he was called out on the water — well, that’s definitely me.
Between Peter’s two follows.
Peter, a fisherman by trade, was first called by Jesus in Matthew 4. Peter is at work and along comes Jesus calling out, “Come follow me and I’ll show you how to fish for people.”
No questions asked. No clarifications giving. Didn’t Peter think that fishing for people sounded a little strange? But immediately Peter commits, leaves his net, and follows Jesus. Oh how I wish I knew the rest of the story! My heart screams tell me more, tell me more.
And sense I won’t know the rest of the story until heaven, I’ll just fill in what my heart is telling me for now.
The first follow.
When Peter is called he is in awe by the pure authority of Jesus. Maybe even the emotion of the call swells up in his heart. Because my personality is so much like Peter’s, maybe he had a great empathy for people. Fishing for people and helping them tugged at his heart, so it was easy to drop his net and follow.
Swept up in the emotion of being chosen, he doesn’t think. He doesn’t consider what the call will entail or what he’ll sacrifice on this unknown journey. He doesn’t think about the ridicule he’s surely to receive from family and friends. He just simply obeys!
He jumps. He follows. He risks. He gets comfortable.
The second follow.
After years of following Jesus, performing miracles, being scoffed at by others, eventually denying Jesus three times, and seeing Jesus crucified Peter is toast. He’s undone. I’m sure he’s beating himself up for being a failure. Maybe he even pins the heartbreak of Jesus’ crucifixion on himself.
No matter what Peter is thinking, Jesus shows up again. He doesn’t just show up to converse with Peter (John 21:15-23), but to say yet again “Follow Me!”
There’s no quick immediate response this time. Maybe he hung his head low thinking you’ve got to be kidding, I totally failed the first time. Or maybe he thought why would I want to be vulnerable put myself through the heartache again.
No matter what was going through his head, one thing is for certain. He did not respond immediately as he did the first time. His brain took over.
I think I’m Peter.
Called a year ago to create a ministry that served the homeless and those needing help in my city, I eagerly set out. I knew it was a call from Jesus, there was no denying that. The emotion of the call made it easy to step forward afraid. I sought the Lord and his vision and blindly followed.
Over the course of the year I saw what a “call” really entails. Rude comments from friends not understanding, nor even trying to. Ridicule from those who think they can do it better or that you’re doing it wrong. Even a few hurtful conversations with those you’re serving telling you you are not a blessing. The burden of the souls never leave your mind. The flexibility in your schedule diminishes.
But I am thankful that emotion swept me out into the deep of a call.
I wouldn’t trade the hurts and heartache for anything. I’ve seen Jesus move in miraculous ways as I’ve trusted beyond my capacity. It’s been an incredible journey.
While the journey is still unfolding, in some aspects it has become a comfortable. And wouldn’t you just know it — just like in Peter’s situation, Jesus shows up again with another “Follow me.”
I confess. For a month I’ve sat with my head hung low, pondering. Thinking about the heartache that can come from moving ahead with a “Yes, Lord.” Rationalizing my lack of knowledge for the call. Oh my, I’ve been thinking too much.
The answer.
While Peter only asks questions of Jesus when he’s approached with the second “Follow me,” we do know by the rest of the Bible that he went on to follow and do great works for the Kingdom.
But today, I want to give Jesus more than my questions. I want to give him my answer.
Jesus, “Yes. I’ll go.”
I’m taking my first scary step this week. I’ll be sharing this journey with you beginning this Thursday. Thanks to Amy Sullivan and her challenge to #RiskRejection, I’ll be risking and sharing the journey along the way. Read about the challenge and join in here.
What about you? Have you been called? What was your answer?
Are you thinking and answering with your heart or your head?
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Alene,
I love how each of us are deisgned to love certain groups of people…to scoop them up and to let them sink into our hearts. I know, I know, we are to love all, but you know what I mean.
For you, the homeless in your city is your group.
A couple of years ago, I had a conversation with my daughter about the homeless, and you know what? I didn’t like my answers. I wrote something about being a servant or a sucker on my blog, and then someone pointed me to one of their friends and one of their friends happen to have loads of expertise in dealing with the homeless and was in charge of a ministry about an hour and a half from my house.
So, I got in the car drove there and spent about an hour just listening to her thoughts on the homeless. There are SO many layers to people who are homeless. I had no idea.
We make generalizations and stereotypes without even realizing it and there isn’t an easy solution.
Thanks for loving those who are in such complicated life situations.
Oh Amy — thanks for the encouragement. It’s the complicated dark places of life that are so messy and risky to enter. Taking a step further this week — thanks for the nudge. Or maybe I need to shake my fists higher at you, I’ll let you know soon. :)
Yay, you did it! That’s a pretty big risk, which is awesome, because when we risk big God provides big!
Definitely counting on Jehovah Jireh here. He’ll open doors if this is of Him that’s for sure!
this is so fantastic! so so excited that you are embracing risk.
Great post, Alene! Yay for taking the #risk. Joining you in this journey. . . posting mine on Thursday. I love Peter. Out of all the disciples, I relate to him the most.
Oh YAY – can’t wait to read and cheer you on, you fellow risk-taker for the Kingdom! Thankful I found another Peter lover.
A great big AMEN! Looking forward to reading your journey! I didn’t join the challenge, but some day I will write my scary. Blessings!
Oh girl, I just love you and I so wish I lived closer to join you in your journey of serving the homeless. I think you are AMAZING. I loved how you related to back to Peter. I love how you know this is something you’ve been called to do and no matter the rejection you keep saying yes. Maybe that is part of what I need to express in the risk I will be writing about. Because, really…we were called for this journey we are on and I knew we had to say, “Yes, I will follow.” I will be posting on Wednesday!! Love you.
We need to plan that trip this year and connect, for sure! Can’t wait to read your adventure with risk. Love that I can have accountability along the way. I have no clue what I’m doing so friends and cheerleaders along the journey as most welcomed.