Peter: An example of struggles, growth
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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23
Practical Application: Each of us struggle, and each of us must grow.
Action Statement: Today I will strive to grow spiritually so I will be the proper example to others.
Example: Many of us may be able to relate to Peter, to his weaknesses and struggles, because he was a common man. He did not sit at the feet of Gamaliel as did Paul.
He was a common fisherman, and sometimes he, as we, said and did the wrong thing. Yet, if he could learn and grow to be pleasing to God, and thus be the proper example, so can we!
Peter is often ridiculed because of his brash statements and actions. Indeed, many of his examples were not good, and he needed to change – to grow past his tendency to speak and act without understanding.
Thankfully he did grow, learning from his many disasters and repenting of them, to the point that he became one of the greatest leaders in the church.
Changing from one of the worst examples, he became one of the finest examples of spiritual growth and obedience in the entire Bible! This being true, our study has the potential of greatly aiding us in our spiritual growth. May it be so!
Growth: Sometimes growth comes slowly, and other times it comes quickly. This is true of us as it was of Peter. Thankfully all our weaknesses and failures are not recorded.
Peter walked on water to Jesus (Matthew 14:25-33), but quickly lost his faith because of fear caused by the storm. How difficult it must have been to hear Jesus say, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
A man of little faith, yet one who had strong enough faith to make the good confession that Jesus is indeed “…the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and was told by Jesus, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona” (Matthew 16:13-19).
From one of little faith to one who was blessed by Jesus, and then one He called Satan, because he was trying to control Jesus’ destiny (Matthew 16:21-23)! Peter had to learn, and we do, too, that God’s plan is better than ours.
Jesus recognized Peter’s struggles, and his growth, because He wanted him with Him at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). Unfortunately, he was still thinking worldly thoughts (Luke 9:33). He was in Jesus’s inner circle, but he still had a lot of room to grow!
Peter’s low point was when he tried to protect his Lord (Matthew 26:51-54), to then deny Him three times just as Jesus predicted (Matthew 26:58, 69-75). His high point of the night was when “he went out and wept bitterly” (v. 75).
It is clear from his life after this event, including the honor of preaching the first recorded Gospel sermon (Acts 2), that with his bitter weeping was much needed repentance! May we follow his lead when we sin.
Eugene Jenkins is the preacher at Rockford Church of Christ, located on U.S. Hwy. 231 south of Dollar General. He invites you to worship with us on Sundays, with Bible study at 9 a.m. and worship at 10 a.m. Study with us as we continue to Search the Scriptures!
