FEAR=GETTING THE BEST OF US=PETER THE ROCK

 

FEAR=GETTING THE BEST OF US=

(Even Peter the ROCK)

 

Are you FEARFUL?=Do you EVER get afraid?

IF you say NO= to both of these questions=you

Are NOT like any of the rest of us

 

When Jesus’ moment=TIME CAME for truth

ONE literally sold him out

THE REST=ran away in FEAR=and one the ROCK=Peter

Denied him because of his fear

 

FEAR Getting the best of them

FEAR=GETTING THE BEST OF US=in today’ world

 

“Jesus said to them’=’But WHO do you say that I am?’

Simon Peter said in reply=

‘You are THE CHRIST=the Son of the LIVING GOD’”                                                                Matthew 16:15-16

 

And Jesus’ RESPONSE to this=

“BLESSED are you=Simon son of Jonah=For

Flesh and blood= has not revealed this to you=but

MY HEAVENLY FATHER”                                                                                                                Matthew 16:17

 

So Peter KNEW=exactly who Jesus was=What

Caused Peter to deny him three times?=He was

Jesus’ ROCK=But NOWHERE to be found during                  

This trying time=WHY=FEAR=Fear overcame faith

 

FEAR=the same thing today=causes us

To BE AFRAID in this=the 21^st century

 

FEAR of death=fear of illness=Fear of being hurt

Or our family or friends hurt=by another human being

What happened to Peter?=What happens to us?

It is JUST FEAR=GETTING THE BEST OF US!

 

“FEAR the Lord=your God=serve him only=

And take your OATHS=in his name”                                                                                      Deuteronomy 6:13

 

“THE FEAR=of the Lord=is pure

Enduring forever=The decrees of the Lord

Are firm=and all of them=are righteous”                                                                          Psalm 19:9

 

“THE FEAR=of the Lord=adds length to LIFE=

But the years of the wicked=are cut short”                                                                       Proverbs 10:27

 

Jesus CHANGED Simon’ name to Peter=where

IN GREEK=Peter means ROCK=so clearly he

Had FAITH IN HIM=to get the job done=and

He did just that=AFTER the Resurrection

 

Jesus knew Peter could be FRAGILE and fearful=

We all are=EXCEPT for Christ=Jesus knew that after

He was gone=Peter’s strength=Peter’s FAITH

Could OVERCOME HIS FEAR=and it clearly did

He LED the OTHER APOSTLES

 

But at that critical moment=FEAR GOT THE BEST

Of Peter=as it GETS THE BEST OF ALL OF US=at certain times

FEAR=GETTING THE BEST OF US

 

“So=DO NOT FEAR=for I am with you=do not

Be dismayed=for I am your God”                                                                                              Isaiah 41:10

 

“There is=NO FEAR IN LOVE=But perfect love

DRIVES OUT FEAR=because FEAR has to do

With punishment=The one WHO FEARS=is not

Made perfect in love”                                                                                                        1 John 4:18

 

Today=on one of Peter’s feast days

Let us recognize=That he is THE ROCK

 

That Peter’s faith=and PERFECT LOVE=after the Resurrection

Enabled him to be Christ’s ROCK=and BUILD

A strong foundation=for the CHRISTIAN CHURCH

 

Dear Lord=we PRAY=let us OVERCOME OUR FEAR

With our faith=and PERFECT LOVE=just like Peter=and

BE STRONG CHRISTIAN WITNESSES=in this the 21^st century

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our PERFECT LOVING=Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-15-2024

 

Ps       INSPIRED=by an article=IN LIVNG FAITH MAGAZINE=by Patricia Livingston