Scripture
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance." (1Pet. 1:1)
Observation
All Four Gospels describe Peter as somewhat unpredictable and temperamental. But after the resurrection of Jesus – throughout the rest of the N.T. he is a transformed man.
When it comes to Peter’s writings, and this comes out of his own life failures, yet his words from the book of First and Second Peter, carry so much weight.
Ever since the completion of writing first and second Peter, critics have often declared that it would have been impossible for a fisherman like Peter to come up with the complex sentence structure and sophisticated vocabulary found in these letters.
Because of Peter’s history from the Gospels - his credentials were often called into question. But Luke (Dr. Luke - author of the book of Acts) records that after hearing Peter speak, everyone must have wondered, how was this guy able to speak with such clarity and authority— until they realized he had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
WOW - I like that! Hanging out with Jesus will make a smart man out of anyone!
Peter got to listen to, eat with, and travel alongside Jesus for three years.
The result was obvious.
And the same is true with us - even as I spend time hanging out with (Peter) the one who hung out with Jesus, that Spiritual Stuff will rub off – we will take on His characteristics just as noticeably, as wonderfully as did the fisherman-turned-scholar: the Apostle Peter.
Application
To be an effective leader I must be walking by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s important to realize that all of us - even those with the best intentions - are prone to fall when we walk in our own strength and not in the empowerment of the Spirit. The apostle Peter is a great example of this from his life before and after the resurrection of Jesus. I am reminded of Peter’s example of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for Your New Testament writing and the incredible examples of those that walked in the Holy Spirit. I realize that You gave the Spirit to everyone to enable us to walk with You. Thank you, Lord for helping us come together. Amen.
