31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
S – is there a sin to confess? A failure of faith. A denial of Christ. The ascertion that Peter would die for Jesus – just talk.
P – is there a promise to claim? Jesus prays for people that their faith may not fail.
A – is there an attitude to change? Have faith no matter how bad things look, no matter how poor my expectations are being met.
C – is there a command to obey? When we turn back, use it as an opportunity to strengthen others.
E – is there an example to follow? Opposite – don’t follow Peter!
P – is there a prayer to pray? Pray that our faith may not fail.
E – is there an error to avoid? Impulsive speech
T – is there a truth to believe? Satan wants us to fall. That is his goal for us. Jesus is gracious and in the case of Peter, he knows that Peter is going to fall and yet encourages him to strengthen the brothers when he turns back. Jesus doesn’t condemn Peter, but gently teaches him to move ahead as he repents.
S – is there something to praise God for? It would have to be in the truth above, that Jesus is condemning when we fail him, but wants us to learn and strengthen others through the experience.
As I pray about this reading, I am struck on a couple of levels. First, I am probably as impulsive as Peter. I say a lot of things but struggle to follow through. Second, I love the fact that Jesus actually knows Peter is going to deny him, but he also knows that Peter is going to repent and get through it. Jesus knows I’m going to fail him at times, and it is comforting to know that He isn’t standing over me with a whip, but he lovingly chides me to learn from my failures and strengthen others through it. He even prays for me. That means I need to see my failures as not something to hide, but something to help others with. I don’t need to hide behind a mask of success. It is in our failures and subsequent repentance that we can sometimes strengthen others.
All that said, I don’t want to be one to fail Jesus. But when I do, I pray that I might strengthen others through it.