My Buddy Pete

You've got to love Peter, Simon Peter, the fisherman guy. Ordinary guy, ordinary job. I like to think I'm a lot like him. He was the first disciple called by Christ. Right hand man to God, you might say. Impulsive, shoot from the hip. Putting his big foot in his mouth over and over. Just like me. When Jesus announced he was going to suffer and die Peter jumped in "Oh no way I'll let that happen, Lord!" Whoa Man, why didn't somebody tell you to settle down? Maybe once in a while it wouldn't kill you to wait and listen for an explanation. Jesus said He would wash the disciples' feet and Peter flipped "I'd never allow you to wash MY feet, Lord!" Jesus said the disciples would disown Him and Peter yelled "Never! If I have to die with you I'll never disown you!" Peter - yeah, I'm just like you, buddy. Big hero when there's no heat on. Thank You Lord for choosing Peter. Because since You did then there's hope for me. Thank You for looking into my heart and seeing what I want to do, not what I actually end up doing. Thank You for knowing how much I need You.

You take me to the garden with You and what do I do? Fall asleep. Then when the crisis comes I'm jumping to my feet sputtering "I'm here - been here all along, Lord!" Whipping out my sword. Ready to attack first and ask questions later. Jesus, I'm not afraid to be first like Peter and weep when I see my mistakes, and beg you to wash my hands and head not just my feet. Just let me come to the place where he got to in the end. "Look at us", he told the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. "I don't have any money, but what I have I'm giving to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk." Acts 3:1-6 Do everything bigger, Peter. Big mouth, big attitude - thank You Lord for including a guy like Peter in Your perfect plan. Thank You for showing me his story. In the end, Lord let me say You used me for something, too. Like him, let me be a conduit for Your grace. Doesn't even have to be something big. Turning wild hearts to Your will - like Peter's, like mine - now that's big.