One of my most recent posts here was entitled "Here We Are." It had to do so much with choices and how our decisions ultimately can determine our destiny. Just today, I had soo much feedback from friends about that piece, I was encouraged to follow it up with some sort of caveat. From the feedback, it would seem so many of us are coming face to face with our own "Consequential Reality."

An incredible example which magnifies such a principle, is found in Luke 22:31...

' "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." '

This space does not permit the proper expansion of the text, but let's just tap into just one pertinent theme here. Notice that Jesus has just stated that satan (not some spirit, demon, imp, gargoyle, bad actor playing satan, or anything else of the sort), has "demanded permission to sift" Peter like wheat. Now if I was peter, that encounter alone would have caused me to tap out, throw in the towel, and not go fishin, but drinkin. If Jesus told me, of a meeting He had personally with satan, then informed me of the prince of darkness's request to have me, sift me, and turn me into his boy............that would be sufficient cause for me to be more than afraid.

Does it strike you the way it does me, how Jesus follows up his statement? He doesn't say, "But Peter my poor little scared brother, whom I love and have soo much compassion for....I want you to go to church and find some real strength." Nor does he say "But Peter, poor defenseless soul, call your therapist right away, and make an appointment, cuz you're gonna need it!" He offers no token one-liner like, "Keep your chin Up," or "Stay strong my Brother," or "Don't worry champion of Mine." He doesn't even say "Go and fast for 40 days so you'll be strong enough in my power to resist the Temptation." He doesn't even say "Retreat to the woods to pray Peter." Jesus Himself, the very Son of God says to him, in what I'm sure had to be the most 'defining' moment of Peter's life heretofore. ((Talk about a quintessential moment of sobriety.))

Our SAVIOR says, "But I've prayed for you, that your faith may not fail."

Not self-talk, church-talk, christian-ese, or "You-can-do-it-ese." But.....Faith talk. Pure and simple.

Jesus goes right in for the kill; the killing of Peter's own self-sufficiency. He puts his finger on the very thing in Peter's life that would later be essential for the rest of his calling to come to fruition. As we search history, we find that it was Peter's faith more than anything, that would be the essence of His influence in the new testament church.

I bet if we had the opportunity to interview Peter now, he'd say that that conversation set the stage for all that would soon follow.

Jesus has a knack for putting the onus on us sometimes. Make no mistake, He is always concerned about our OWN FAITH, and development there of. This is Peter's moment on the stage of biblical and personal history. The plot would later thicken, as this encounter precedes the moment right before he is later told by Jesus that "The cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."

Maybe you're like me, as I relate so much to Peter. Strong one minute, so naive, fragile, and ready to give up- another. Ready to conquer the world and save the day one minute, the next minute running from accountability and consequence. I marvel at Jesus' love for Peter, as well as his unwillingness to forget Peter or turn his back on him because of his great sins and repeated failure.

Later, Peter would enter his own time of recovery, which would ultimately usher in the call of God upon his life. It would also bring about the true faith he would need to ultimately and courageously help change the world for the Kingdom of God.

I think Jesus was saying to Peter (and ultimately us as well), something to the effect of, "Look, you have a part to play in this thing called life." There is something YOU can do. It's the decisions you make, and the lifestyle you take up, that will determine how you handle what is in front of you, (and most definitely, behind you). Certainly now, and in the generations to come.

Although Jesus himself says to cast our burdens upon the Lord, and also cast our anxieties upon Him, there is still an emphasis put on our own decisions, character, habits, and lifestyle. Without getting too deep, we all do have a faith. It's evident by our actions, thoughts, and decisions. It's displayed by where we spend our time, who we spend it with, and what we are dedicated to on a daily basis. It's shown off by how open and honest we are with our spouses, and accountability partners. By what measures of accountability we live by, and how desperate we are for openness, and recovery. It is our faith that Jesus wants to be strong. That fact is indicative by the truth that without our faith (which is a picture of HIS WORD, HIS WORK, AND HIS POWER in our life), we cannot even begin to walk in strength of mind, soul, heart, or character.

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO YOU TODAY? Has your faith failed you? Or is it rather, that you have failed your faith? On the surface it can seem as though our faith can fail us or let us down at times, giving way to doubt and perpetual cynicism. However, only when we see through our eyes alone, does it seem as though our faith has let us down. One would think that David's faith failed him, yet he was a man after God's own heart.......or Paul's faith failed him by his frequent visitations to prison, or stoning. Perhaps Gideon's faith failed him? Better yet, Abraham...or even Jesus??? When we see through the eyes of Christ, we'll come to grips with the fact that many times things don't' go the way we want them too, according to our plan. However, in the end, if we'll trust Him for the outcome, and trust Him to bring glory and grace from the situation, we'll find our faith in Him never lets us down. We, like Peter, will always fail tests and fail our own faith. But our confident, desperate and continual reliance upon Christ will never fail us in God's time line, as He loves to show Himself strong on our behalf. God loves us too much to not come through for us, even though His coming through may not look (or feel) the way we want it to, all the while He is working on our behalf. He knows what is best for us and is the very definer of good. He is faithful to know what is in our best interests, both short and long term. May we not fail our faith; but when we do (and we will), let us run to Him, repent, and ultimately draw near to Him; boldly and confidently, knowing He is near to all who call upon Him.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, AND WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU!!!