Wednesday Bible Study: Taking a break from Proverbs with Peter

This week I want to veer off for a bit because while learning is good, application is the thing, and I found myself in need of applying something after listening to a lesson on the Apostles- particularly Peter, and that he was the leader of the band basically because he gave us the most to learn from.  Typically, I get energized by learning something and then regurgitate it here, and fail to do a strong enough application to my own life.  So today it's gonna be: What Peter messed up and what I need to learn from it.  I found 12 main things, and my grade was a bit mixed on them.

1- Bring it first to Jesus

Mat 17:24  When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" 

Mat 17:25  He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 

Peter was what you would call a 'shoot-from-the-hip' type, wired to speak first and think after.  I have to say my usual grade on this is a D+, but at least in this one case, I sat myself down and asked the question, "What do I need to learn from Peter?" first.

2- Trust in Jesus, not your own failures

Luk 5:4  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 

Luk 5:5  And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 

Luk 5:6  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 

"I tried that!" is never a good excuse to give to God.  In fact, anything that starts with "I" is something that I need to back up and pray about.  I think this is where Satan gets us most, and while I'm getting better with my "I's", the second half I struggle at.  C-.

3- Stop going back to the 'old ways'

Joh 21:2  Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 

Joh 21:3  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

We all have these defenses- against pain, grief, even (and maybe especially) boredom.  Not all of them are beneficial, some are harmful.  I have to recognize when the old way metastasizes and I must move on.  C-.

4- Shut up and Listen

Mat 17:4  And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 

Mat 17:5  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 

Now this one I believe Jesus is gaining on me with.  Of course, it usually takes about 15 minutes of 'pitching tents' first, but...  B-

5- Be awake in prayer

Mat 26:37  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 

Mat 26:38  Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 

Mat 26:39  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 

Mat 26:40  And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 

Over and over lately, I am being told one truth I hit every day- Prayer is hard work!  Everything possible in your mind will be dumped into the way when you need it to clear out so you can focus on talking to Jesus most.  Any kind of distraction, any loop of song that comes up when I wake and says, "You will now hear me for the next hour."  D+.

6- Don't talk a good game

Mat 26:31  Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 

Mat 26:32  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." 

Mat 26:33  Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." 

Mat 26:34  Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." 

Mat 26:35  Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same. 

I get so tired of the "works/faith" debate on the Catholic channels, because both sides don't get it.  Faith is the start; works needs to be the result.  "Look at me, I'm working!" doesn't mean faith anymore than, "I've been saved, praise the Lord!" shows works.  I have two reasons I do these posts: To grind it into my own stupid head, and to share it with you that read.  B-.

7- Forgive as you have been forgiven

Mat 18:21  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 

If you start from the basis of where YOU are, forgiveness is easier.  We get thorns in the flesh, as Paul did, so that we are saying, "Oh wretched man that I am!" as he did, and go to Christ for our forgiveness first.  B.

8- Put your mind on God's agenda

Mat 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 

Mat 16:22  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 

Mat 16:23  But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." 

Grief really batters this one.  Too easy to focus on the loss rather than the reward.  I keep having to remind myself that the Prodigal's Father is running towards me with open arms.  C.

9-  Keep your eyes on Jesus when it gets rough

Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 

Mat 14:29  He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 

Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 

Mat 14:31  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

I have grown a little bit in this category, mainly because of all the waves that have come our way this year.  I've had a lot of practice, and I am a lot better at the whole, "God, why did you let this happen?" thing.  And if it weren't for accepting that I was to learn from Scrappy's suffering, it wouldn't have happened.  B-.

10- Follow the example

Joh 13:6  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 

Joh 13:7  Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." 

Joh 13:8  Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 

Humility is the key to everything I am learning this year.  But it becomes an issue in ways and directions you'd never believe.  It's like you need 360 degree spiritual vision to even make a dent in it.  And we Martins are ill-wired for humility.  D+.

11- Don't worry about the 'other guy'

Joh 21:20  Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 

Joh 21:21  When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 

Joh 21:22  Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" 

We had a semi-discussion about this a few weeks back.  The way to judge whether you're on the right track is look ahead at the leader, and not beside and behind at someone else.  God will encourage in specifics; Satan will criticize in generalities.  B+.

12- And right back where we started from- application

Mat 15:12  Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 

Mat 15:13  He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 

Mat 15:14  Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." 

Mat 15:15  But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 

Mat 15:16  And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 

Today, with this post, I get an A.  Tomorrow is another day.