In case you missed it, Fall is my favorite season of the year. I eagerly look forward to the crispy morning breeze and the changing colors of the leaves. All the same, the Apostle Peter is one man that I have been quite fascinated by. I recently made my fourth trip to the museum of the bible in Washington, DC and this time, I got a picture taken with his statue. I cherish that photo dearly. For the next few weeks, I want to dissect everything I cherish about his persona.
I want to do this series because Peter’s love for Christ honestly moves me so much. There is something about him that feels so relatable and so beautiful at the same time. He loved Jesus deeply, even when he didn’t always get everything right, and I think that makes his story even more special. Peter reminds me that Jesus is not looking for perfection, He is looking for a heart that truly loves Him and is willing to be changed.
When we first meet Peter in the Bible, he is still Simon, a simple fisherman going about his everyday life. But Jesus saw more in him than what others could see. In John 1:42, Jesus says, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” That moment is so powerful to me because it shows that Jesus calls people into their purpose before they even fully see it themselves.
Simon was not perfect, and that is part of why I love his story so much. He was bold, impulsive, sometimes uncertain, and yet Jesus still chose him. Jesus saw the rock in him before Peter ever acted like one. That reminds me that God knows exactly who we can become, even when we are still a work in progress.
Peter’s life is such a beautiful picture of transformation. He walked with Jesus, stumbled, learned, failed, and was restored, but through it all, God was shaping him into something strong and useful for His glory. His journey encourages all of us to believe that God can take our imperfect hearts and still do something amazing with them. I pray that this will be our story, in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
Xoxo,
Lady Abena.