I am reminded of the truth about the power of authentic relationships, self-discipline, and being a person of action from this Bible story. Even if Faith is not a value for you, read this and look for the truth you can apply in your life.
Jesus chose Peter and put Peter on his team (Disciples); even though Peter was brash, jumped to conclusions, argued, lied, and flat out denied the truth. Peter had to say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness a lot. Jesus had to fix Peter's mistakes, like when Peter hacked off another man’s ear with his sword out of anger. I can relate to Peter. However, Jesus called Peter “The Rock,” and we know he is responsible for the beginning of the early church. Looking back, Peter’s legacy is unparalleled. So what were the qualities that made Peter a man Jesus put in his inner circle despite all his shortcomings?
Remember this story: Imagine the chaos of the storm in Matthew 14. Here comes Jesus walking across the water. The disciples are terrified, they're not sure if Jesus is real or a ghost, but we know they ALL see Jesus, and they ALL hear his voice. But, Peter is the one who has the strength to respond. He dares to call out to Jesus, asking for the green light to get out of the boat and try to walk on the water to Jesus. Does Peter have some unique ability to discern if it was Jesus, or is he just crazy enough to risk his life to walk on water with a ghost?
We know Peter wasn’t crazy. Peter knew it was Jesus because he had a personal, authentic relationship. He lived, learned, succeeded, and failed with Jesus every day. When he heard Jesus call to him, despite the storm and his fear and doubt, he knew it was Jesus. Peter’s Faith was based on his experience and relationship with Jesus. Peter didn’t leave the boat based on hope; he stepped out because he had been living life with Jesus, and he believed despite the circumstances and his previous failures, Jesus wouldn’t let him drown.
Peter continued to grow. He developed into the person that even after Jesus was crucified, remained firm in his beliefs and established the early church. Peter must have become more focused and disciplined; he learned from his mistakes and experiences.
Peter was a man of action. He first proved and refined himself with his closest friends (the disciples), and then went on to carry Jesus’s vision and mission to the world. Jesus had to pause Peter, hold him back, and refine his thought process. He never had to encourage or challenge Peter to have something to say, to come forward and respond. Peter was a man of action. He lived a life worth living, and he died still in the fight. That resonates with my heart. To live a purpose-filled life and to die a good death. (Maybe I feel this way because I’m old and closer to death than the rest of you! Ha)
Personally, I believe Peter is an example of the kind of man I was designed to BE, and doing what I was created to do will require a values-based, authentic relationship, which means I have to make it a priority in my life. My relationship with God is based on the idea of a continual conversation. It extends past the quiet time I have set aside in the morning to shoot my bow and intentionally talk to God. It’s a meditative time for me to set aside all input and intentionally organize my thoughts, get present, and listen. The value of faith in my life is not about religion or even church or the Bible. It’s principally based on my personal relationship with God. Everything else that comes after that is intentionally in order of what I choose is valuable for my life. I don’t need proof of this relationship. I don’t need affirmation from anyone else; that’s what the value of Faith means to me. I choose to believe I was put on this planet for a reason. I choose to believe there is something with greater purpose outside my existence as humans on this planet. I believe that I was created with the desire to live free in my heart and the greatest gift I have been given is the ability to choose how I will live my life. So, I choose to believe in Faith as an anchor value in my life.
Action plan: I'm putting Self-Discipline in my core values for 2022 so I can re-aim at it each day. Honestly, I haven’t been as successful as I wanted to be with self-discipline. I’ve found that it is best for me to do something physically, mentally, and spiritually to discipline myself. It pays dividends in all areas of my life. It’s all connected.
To BE prepared and respond according to my values, I have to write it into my personal code. One of my most significant personal commitments is being a man of action, anchored by my values. I have felt unworthy, and I have been ashamed in my past because I was afraid and uncertain of my identity. I turned away from conflict because I was uncomfortable. I would rather be dead than be that man anymore. I’m not saying any of this from my ego; I’m talking about clear-minded action, based on my core values. I can’t live to hide or avoid real life. I want to succeed or fail in real life. I want my children to say I was a man who would always show up, that I would always fix my mistakes, and I was always coming forward.
Truth: We aren’t where we are in our society because good people are doing too much. S&H
Keep Coming Forward
Jim Hensel
