Peter: The Imperfect Leader
‘God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called’, so the saying goes. Often times however, we find ourselves waiting on the precipice of destiny. Waiting, not because of inability or inadequacy, but because of imperfection. “I just need to work on (fill in the blank), then I will be able to do what God has put in my heart,” we lie to ourselves. We have an image of how we are supposed to look, act or speak for God to use us. We put on ourselves these “terms and conditions” of service that God has not imposed on us. And as a result, we end up never living up to the vision God had for us from the very beginning. But there are some, who in spite of their weaknesses, take a leap of faith into the vision God has for them. One such person is Peter, the imperfect leader.
Let us count the ways Peter was “unqualified” for his role as the leader of the early church:
i) He was a fisherman
Peter was an uneducated fisherman. How could he then be entrusted with the church?
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that this men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
Peter was not unaware of his lack of “credentials”. The Jewish leadership was not blind to the “ordinariness” of Peter. Jesus was not oblivious to this fact either. In fact, the first recorded encounter of Peter and Jesus highlights this:
As Jesus was walking beside the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:18-19
Jesus knew exactly who He called and called him anyway. The difference between how Peter responds and how most of us respond is seen in verse 20:
At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:20
Your Turn:
“Come, follow me, Jesus said, “and I will make you […]
Matthew 4:19
Jesus knows you are not qualified for the vision He has placed in your heart. That is why He is telling you to follow Him. As you follow Him, He will make you into what He has called you to be.
In what area is God asking you to follow him? Will you use your credentials (or lack thereof) as excuses, or like Peter, will you, without hesitation, follow?
ii) He wavered in his faith
“Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:28-31
Your Turn:
To live the vision God has placed in your heart requires faith. But, because we are human, our faith may waver in times of testing. Like Peter, we may begin to sink, as the sight of our current circumstances scare us. When this happens, and it will happen, you have two options:
a) Give up and sink in your situation
Or
b) Call out to Jesus and allow Him to catch you
If you choose the latter, you just never know the heights you will be able to reach. After all, who else in all history, apart from Jesus and Peter, can boast of walking on water?
iii) He “missed it” more than once
Peter followed Jesus. In following Him, he got to know who Jesus really was.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Matthew 16:15-18
His understanding of who had called him led to greater revelation of his own purpose on earth.
But, even after this great revelation, Peter still did not always understand Jesus.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. ” This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 16:22-23
Your Turn:
So long as Peter viewed the things of God with the mind of God, he got revelation.
When Peter applied his own thinking to the things of God, he missed out on what God was saying (see John 13:3-11).
There is a time for human reasoning and human logic. However, are you allowing your mental understanding and wisdom of “how things should be” or “how things should work” hinder the work God has for you?
iv) He was afraid of others’ opinions
Peter denied Jesus three times. He did this after claiming:
[…] Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”[…]
Matthew 26:35
Why did Peter deny Jesus?
Simple, he was afraid of what would happen to him.
“Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”[…]
Matthew 26:74
This would not be the only time Peter would be concerned about the opinions of others. Even after taking on the leadership of the church, he struggled with this.
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and seperate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcission group.
Galatians 2:11-12
Your Turn:
How often have you let the fear of others stop you from stepping into the life God has for you?
How often does the fear of the opinions of others affect you?
Remember what the LORD says:
[…] Who are you that you fear mortal men,
the sons of men, who are but grass,
Isaiah 51:12
Jesus Qualifies Peter
There are more weaknesses we can highlight. Just like you and me, Peter was a man of many flaws. Yet, in spite of all these, Jesus only used one criteria to qualify Peter for the position He had set for him:
[…] Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?
“Yes , Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He said, ” Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
Love was and still is the qualifying criteria.
We shall see the role of LOVE in living out our God ordained visions, as we profile John, next week.
Until then, ask yourself, ” Do I love Jesus?”
PS.
Apologies for taking a month long hiatus without notice. When God allows me to, I shall pour out my heart on this matter. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and your prayers.