The Good Word

There is more to this man who introduced himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ," (I Peter 1:1) than we might see at first glance.  The term apostle causes us to envision a super saint, but super saints are just folks like you and me who have allowed the Holy Spirit to sand smooth more of the rough edges.  Peter did not just show up one day to be called the Rock of the Church, or to assume the mantle and authority of an apostle.  It took more than a small measure of work to get him ready for what Jesus was calling him to do.   

When Jesus invited Peter to follow Him, He must have known Peter was going to be a handful.    Peter had a habit of falling asleep when he should have been awake. (Luke 9:32, 22:45)   He was the one whose intentions raced ahead of what he would actually do.  "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." (Matthew 26:35)  However, we know the rest of the story.  On the night of Judas' betrayal of Jesus, Peter, too, denied the One to whom he declared such loyalty and love.  Peter was well acquainted with the double mindedness of the heart.  He knew about failure, remorse, deep regret, repentance, and the grace and mercy of Jesus.     

Peter did not write his letter to the church as one who was detached from the world, but as one who knew all too well the power the world could have over people like him.  What he also knew was the power of forgiveness for he was touched by it one morning as he and Jesus walked along the shore after breakfast.  It is no wonder that this Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ would write to those souls entrusted to him, "You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring Word of God."  (I Peter 1:23)  As were they, so are we.