Being a "Peter"
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
--Matthew 16:18
NKJ
Ever felt like you are carrying a heavy weight as you seek to follow God's calling? I often do-- not because God's calling is burdensome, but because I find myself so inadequate. So when I opened my email devotional today, I was so surprised and touched that I immediately cried. The reason is because just yesterday I was confessing to an older Friend my feelings of defeat, discouragement, inadequacy and fear-- mainly that I am horribly afraid of messing things up as my husband and I step out in faith to do something radically new: plant a Deaf Church in our city over 2 million people, home to some 59,000 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals.
In my conversation with my Friend, I told her that I felt like a Peter-- not the cleanest mouth, often saying the wrong things (and having to insert my foot into my mouth), and occasionally lopping off someone's ear (the more pressure I am under, the more directly blunt I tend to be--sometimes with not the best results). When I opened my email devotional today to this verse, I felt as if God was personally laying His hand on my shoulder and speaking directly to me, encouraging and comforting me in my weakness. And what He had to say is that (while I am a messy "Peter", and I DO need daily to submit myself to Him and His ongoing work of sanctification), that He IS the One building this Church--not us. So we can release that undue pressure, and simply cooperate with and yield to Him. But even more beautiful, is His promise that NOTHING and no one will be able to stand against the work that He is doing. In the original language, Jesus (when speaking to Peter), says: "I say that you are Petros [Little Rock], and upon THIS Rock [Petra--strong, massive rock; cornerstone--the Messiah] I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it"!
I'm so glad that our Savior is building upon Himself, and not us. Because I sometimes feel more like a Simon ["Shifting Sand'] in the midst of all of life's uncertainties and unexpected moments. But I thank and praise God that He is daily fashioning me and fitting me into place--a tiny stone, fitted perfectly (sometimes it feels imperfectly) with so many others that He is using to build His Kingdom here on earth. <3
This is such an incredibly beautiful promise full of hope, and I hope that it would blesses, strengthens, and encourages you too. <3 Whatever God has called you to do, He WILL help you to accomplish, in JESUS' Wonderful Name!
--Matthew 16:18
NKJ
Ever felt like you are carrying a heavy weight as you seek to follow God's calling? I often do-- not because God's calling is burdensome, but because I find myself so inadequate. So when I opened my email devotional today, I was so surprised and touched that I immediately cried. The reason is because just yesterday I was confessing to an older Friend my feelings of defeat, discouragement, inadequacy and fear-- mainly that I am horribly afraid of messing things up as my husband and I step out in faith to do something radically new: plant a Deaf Church in our city over 2 million people, home to some 59,000 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals.
In my conversation with my Friend, I told her that I felt like a Peter-- not the cleanest mouth, often saying the wrong things (and having to insert my foot into my mouth), and occasionally lopping off someone's ear (the more pressure I am under, the more directly blunt I tend to be--sometimes with not the best results). When I opened my email devotional today to this verse, I felt as if God was personally laying His hand on my shoulder and speaking directly to me, encouraging and comforting me in my weakness. And what He had to say is that (while I am a messy "Peter", and I DO need daily to submit myself to Him and His ongoing work of sanctification), that He IS the One building this Church--not us. So we can release that undue pressure, and simply cooperate with and yield to Him. But even more beautiful, is His promise that NOTHING and no one will be able to stand against the work that He is doing. In the original language, Jesus (when speaking to Peter), says: "I say that you are Petros [Little Rock], and upon THIS Rock [Petra--strong, massive rock; cornerstone--the Messiah] I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it"!
I'm so glad that our Savior is building upon Himself, and not us. Because I sometimes feel more like a Simon ["Shifting Sand'] in the midst of all of life's uncertainties and unexpected moments. But I thank and praise God that He is daily fashioning me and fitting me into place--a tiny stone, fitted perfectly (sometimes it feels imperfectly) with so many others that He is using to build His Kingdom here on earth. <3
This is such an incredibly beautiful promise full of hope, and I hope that it would blesses, strengthens, and encourages you too. <3 Whatever God has called you to do, He WILL help you to accomplish, in JESUS' Wonderful Name!
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