God changes us

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is the first time Jesus has so directly discussed the effect of sin with His disciples in so personal a way. He had said, ‘repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’, He had forgiven the woman caught in adultery and told her, ‘go and sin no more’ but as for the disciples, and more importantly, Peter, it was the first. He had rebuked him with ‘get behind me Satan’, when Peter tried to counsel Jesus not to talk about the cross, but had He spoken these words to Peter or to Satan who was influencing Peter? I suggest He spoke to Satan.

Jesus spoke to Peter about his denying he knew Jesus. Peter could not believe he would do such a thing, he protested and said, ‘even if all of these forsake you, I won’t!’ Peter had a view of himself that had not been tested.

In Nepal persecution of Christians is common, we see Nepalis jailed for their faith and foreigners deported. Only this month there was an article in the news saying, ‘go away!’ This was directed at us Christian foreigners. The current head of the immigration department does not like Christians and wants them gone. Preachers are preparing their congregations for persecution. This is cruel as many foreigners have contributed to the building of Nepal, however, fact is replaced by bias.

We do not know how we will behave under persecution. We many speculate but not know until tested. Peter found that when tested he did indeed deny he knew Jesus. When the cock crowed it cemented Jesus’ words and he went away and wept bitterly.

Jesus said, ‘when you have repented’. He knew Peter would repent. Jesus instructed Peter to strengthen His brothers. I wonder how he went with that? After Pentecost Perer was as bold as a lion. The Holy Spirit makes us like that. However, before receiving the Spirit he was a fisherman, afterwards a powerful preacher.

God changes us! Amen!