‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.’ Matthew 7: 24-25 [NIV]
Simon the listener became Peter the rock and he put Jesus’ words into practice. After Jesus left, Peter and the other believers received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. What became of him then?
Peter frequently addressed the crowd, he healed the sick, was put in jail and brought in front of the Sanhedrin. He did not deny Jesus again, instead he proclaimed Jesus’ name as healer and saviour. He built the church among the gentiles, was imprisoned and miraculously released. And at the end of his life he was put to death by crucifixion. So he had listened to Jesus and he followed closely in his footsteps, by the end of his life earning the title of ‘rock’.
What a difference 3 years of walking with Jesus made to Peter’s life! Many of us who have been ‘walking with Jesus’ for far longer than Peter, have failed to make as much progress in our maturity.
Lord, help us to listen, to observe, to learn and to mature – in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Dave MacLellan (first published in 2003)
No comments:
Post a Comment