Peter Looked Back

O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:31.
Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high…. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, “Lord, save me.” Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
Walking side by side, Peter’s hand in that of his Master, they stepped into the boat together. But Peter was now subdued and silent. He had no reason to boast over his fellows, for through unbelief and self-exaltation he had very nearly lost, his life. When he turned his eyes from Jesus, his footing was lost and he sank amid the waves.
When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid Peter come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him, and then forsake us….
In this incident on the sea He desired to reveal to Peter his own weakness,—to show that his safety was in constant dependence upon divine power. Amid the storms of temptation he could walk safely only as in utter self-distrust he should rely upon the Saviour. It was on the point where he thought himself strong that Peter was weak; and not until he discerned his weakness could he realize his need of dependence upon Christ. Had he learned the lesson that Jesus sought to teach him in that experience on the sea, he would not have failed when the great test came upon him.
Day by day God instructs His children. By the circumstances of the daily life He is preparing them to act their part upon that wider stage to which His providence has appointed them. It is the issue of the daily test that determines their victory or defeat in life’s great crisis.
Conflict and Courage p. 310
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Melissa who has an infection after surgery. Also please pray for Ron. He still is in a lot of pain and feels awful. Rose
—–I would like to give another update on Solomon my grandson who was badly beaten and stabbed twice. He has sepsis and he is going into surgery again tomorrow so they can decide whether they will be able to repair his arm or have to amputate it. He is trying to be positive about this whole thing. He was raised by people who were basically wiccans and so he knows really very little about God. I was never allowed know him until he finally became 18 and he could make his own decisions. I have tried to tell him about God the few times that I have seen him. I have told him that there are a lot of people praying for him. He has had a very sad childhood and life and I only hope and pray that he will get to know Jesus and be saved for eternity before it is too late. . Thank you for all your prayers. Connie
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Dear Friends,
The forgiveness of God! It is beyond comprehension! When our first parents partook of the forbidden fruit, sorrow filled all Heaven. Though His Heart of Love was breaking, our Great Creator activated the plan of redemption which “was foreordained before the foundation of the world.” 1 Peter 1:20 Our Dear Saviour left His glorious kingdom where He received the adoration of all of His creation, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:7,8
Isaiah prophesied of Him, “He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him, he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities.” Isa 53:5-11
As Our Loving Redeemer stretched Himself upon that cruel cross, His thoughts were for those rough and rowdy soldiers whose hands held the spikes that would fasten Him to that instrument of torture. Not one thought of retaliation crossed His mind. His heart went out in love to His murderers. His only thoughts, His only words were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Our Dear Saviour longs for us to manifest this same love and forgiveness toward those who have wronged us. Indeed, He warns us, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt 6:15. This is an important point. We have all sinned and desire to be forgiven, but if we do not have a forgiving spirit ourselves, our sins will stay on the record books in Heaven. Fearful condition!
Jesus told a parable to illustrate His desire for us to have the same heartfelt forgiveness toward those who have wronged us, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 19:22-35
We are not naturally forgiving and can receive that ability only from God. Jesus promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27 “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt 7:7. We have the privilege to believe and claim His promises. Then we can press forward knowing that we have received our request.
May we come to Jesus with all of our needs, knowing that He alone can help us. May we receive the ability to forgive those who have wronged us. May we declare as did Paul, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim 1:12P
Rose