Leaders of the Bible: Peter
Matthew 4:18-20, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 26:69-75, Acts 2:14-41
The story of Peter following Jesus and then continuing on past Jesus' death as one of the main leaders of the New Testament church says more about God than it does about Peter.
Jesus called Peter to follow him, therefore initiating this discipleship relationship. Jesus told Peter (without Peter knowing fully who Jesus was or what was to come) that he was the rock he would build his church on. Jesus foretold Peter's denial of him. The Holy Spirit descended upon Peter in Acts 2 and led to his speech at Pentecost and his leadership of the New Testament church from that point on.
Peter had quite the journey. He went from a typical fisherman of that time in history to learning from Jesus Christ himself and becoming one of the initial and main leaders of the Christian faith. He was the rock that Jesus built his church on. But again, Peter’s story says more about God than it does about Peter.
We can learn 3 things about God through the story of Peter and his leadership.
God knows what He is doing.
God wants to use the normal and the broken.
God equips his followers to change the world.
Let's dig a little deeper.
God knows what He is doing. Jesus took a random fisherman under his wing to teach and make him into a fisher of men. Nothing spectacular is mentioned or sticks out about Peter. But God chose Peter, and it led to fruit. God knew.
God wants to use the normal and the broken. As mentioned, Peter was a pretty basic guy. Not only was he basic, he also showed his true brokenness when denying Jesus right after he told Christ that he would never do such a thing. Jesus did not ban Peter from the group of disciples. God did not stop using Peter. Peter’s leadership grew tremendously after his denial of Jesus and Jesus' death. God uses the broken.
God equips his followers to change the world. Not only did he keep using Peter, He used Peter to lead his people on a church planting trajectory and start a movement of the Christian faith. The global Church is what it is today because of how God used Peter and others to start a movement of Jesus followers living out Christlikeness and sharing their faith.
What an awesome God we have. What a powerful, all knowing God we have. Thank you, Father.
We know these truths about God, but what does that mean for us today? Take faith my brothers and sisters that God knows what He is doing, He wants to use us through our broken stories and equip us to change the world. We are invited into living a life to glorify Him. Praise God for using Peter to start a movement. Father, help us continue to bring change to the world in your name.
