Change

Simon Peter must have had red hair. His loud, obnoxious, and no filter personality fits with what I know about red heads…probably because I am one. The gospel of Luke was influenced mostly by Peter as Luke travelled with Peter a lot after the resurrection and I can only imagine the history that Peter poured out to this detail oriented doctor. What we are told is that Peter was a fisherman that left his full nets of fish to follow a stranger that called him. He was so sure of this man being the Messiah that he trusted him with his life and sustenance. Yet throughout the gospel, we read how he would confess his faith in Jesus…and then waiver a few verses later. “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God (Lk 9:20).” Yet we find out in Matt 16:22-23, this same confessor told this Christ that he cannot die and be raised again a few moments after his amazing confession. Jesus then rebuked him strongly.

Then the time came for Jesus to die. Despite the fact he told Peter over and over again that it must happen, Peter missed it. Peter proudly told Jesus in Luke 22:33-34 that he was ready to go both to prison and to death for Jesus even though Jesus had told him that Peter will deny Him three times. Jesus then called him to stay with him in the garden while he prayed but Peter fell asleep. He tried two more times and still, he could not keep his eyes open to comfort his master. Then Jesus was taken. Peter followed him to the courtyard and this great confessor melted under the boast of a little girl saying that he was with Jesus. He answered her by cursing himself! Then the rooster crowed. Worse than that, Luke declares that Jesus turned and looked at Peter at the final echoes of the crow (Lk 22:61). Oh my heart! Yes! I have done that too! Boldly claimed my trust in Christ yet fold in the painful throws of adversary. I balk at Peter, yet then realize how my faith wanes when circumstances don’t play out like I thought they would.

Will Peter ever get it? Will his faith remain in this Messiah despite what he sees or thinks will happen?

Jesus dies. The earth shakes. The skies darken. The curtain is torn in two. Dead people are now alive again and walking around Jerusalem. Peter hides with the other disciples. What is going on!?!?! Friday ends, Saturday ends, then Sunday begins.

Suddenly a gate rattles and the disciples hear Mary yelling at them to open it! They go to the women at the gate and listen as they hysterically proclaim that the tomb is empty! They went to prepare the body, but now it isn’t there! Peter ran to the tomb (Lk 24:12). I’m sure he stood amazed in wonder. What happened? Could it be? Can he believe it to be true? He went back to the other disciples to tell them what he saw.

Then suddenly, Jesus appeared! He spoke to them! They freaked out and thought he was a ghost (Lk 24:36-43)! These men who walked with him for three years and heard him say he had to die and be raised, were in shock when it actually happened. Jesus showed his hands, his side, and even ate to prove to them he was alive! I can see Peter standing with his mouth open and heart full! I can imagine him falling at his feet in sorrow for his disbelief yet shaking in the excitement of his presence! He’s ALIVE! Death had been conquered! Forgiveness had been gifted to him, to Peter! To all that trust in Christ! The final sacrifice had been made! Jesus walked them again through scripture, from the fall, through the prophets, that this must happen for man to be restored to God (Lk 24:44-49). Then they watched Him ascend back to heaven to his rightful place next to the Father.

Peter changed. He no longer doubted. He travelled the world to tell everyone about this Christ. He died by hanging on a cross…yet he did not want to die like his Savior, so he asked to be crucified upside down! Who does that for a lie? The resurrection changed everything for Peter!

How about you and me sister? Have you thought about how powerful this resurrection is? How life changing it is? It changed the calendar. It changed the day we worship to Sunday. No other god out there has made this resurrection claim. They can’t! They are all still in the grave! Our faith means nothing if this resurrection did not happen. We have no hope of being restored to our creator without it. This brash, bold Peter who flipped his alliances so easily in the beginning never doubted again. I want my red-headed personality to be like that! To never doubt in the dark again what I have seen in the light! The resurrection has changed me too!

Blessings and Grace,

Colleen

Dearest sister,

My husband and I have started a fun little dinnertime ritual, which involves a deck of conversation cards. A few days ago, the dinnertime question was, “What qualities are most important for you when choosing a friend?” We both enjoy having interesting conversations, and agreed that was a nice quality in a friendship, as are sacrifice, loyalty, and generosity. However, having a genuine, authentic friend who is willing to share her heart and struggles is far more important to me than any other trait.

Have you experienced this type of relational intimacy? If so, then you will most likely agree that this is a rare gift in this busy world. We are happy to connect with friends on more light-hearted topics, even if we cannot share our hearts. There is certainly nothing wrong with these types of friendships- not all relationships can or should be ones in which we bare our souls. Though this desire may be buried in your heart, we are created with a need and longing for depth of relationship. We are made in the image of our Creator.
Why do we often not experience this lack of intimacy in friendships? One obvious answer is the busy, frenetic pace at which life passes. Sin clouds our relationships as well, keeping us from feeling safe among ‘friends’. We certainly need to deal with both of those issues head on. But I’d like to suggest another reason we don’t have these friendships.

Are we willing to share our hearts? Opening up our hearts to another sinner is
s-c-a-r-y at times. Okay, who am I kidding? It is very rarely easy to open up about who we are, our weaknesses, our fears, the things that lie beneath the surface of who we appear to be outwardly. It is even scary to share our dreams and desires with friends. What if they think I’m crazy? I’ve certainly felt that way before.

But as controversial author Anne Jackson (now Miller) writes about, we need to give each other the ‘gift of going second’. In other words, are we willing to open up our hearts to a friend, giving them the courage to also share honestly, or do we always wait for others to take the risk first?

Beautiful, honest, deep, meaningful relationships are born out of the risk to be open and vulnerable. I’ve seen it happen so many times in my life. This certainly has not always been because of courage on my part, but because I was desperately in need or facing tremendous trials. But those seasons have always brought the closest bonds, bonds that continue to this day.

The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to divide us, so we must fight for honest relationships. Honesty brings unity, and this is pleasing to God (Psalm 133:1-3). If you knew how much a sister was struggling, would you gossip about her, or tear her down in your thoughts, or judge her inwardly? No, you would most likely reach out to her in love. Likewise, we can more deeply experience God’s love when we open ourselves up to those around us, allowing them to meet our needs and support us as we struggle. We must also be willing to forgive and let go of bitterness in order for honest conversation to happen.

In this busy holiday season, it might seem impossible to foster these types of conversations, but I assure you, there is a sister out there who desperately needs to know she’s not the only one struggling. Perhaps you need that support as well. Reaching IN to our communities is just as important as reaching OUT. Pray about a sister to pursue, and then listen, share your struggles, your dreams and joys as well! There are certainly no guarantees, but don’t be surprised if your relationships start to change for the better.

Your sister,
Ruth

Tag: Change

Bold From Broken

The ‘Gift of Going Second’