Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

The second book of Peter picks up the theme of living authentically in this present evil world. Peter introduces

Meet the new Peter

himself as a slave and an apostle. These two words juxtaposed against each other show us the mindset that he had developed over the years. If we look back a little we remember that this same Peter was arrogant, self-opinionated, had all the answers to life’s problems and was quick to rebuke Jesus when he realised that Jesus would have to suffer death the effect his salvation. Now time had caught up with Peter and he was an elder in the church and a man of great experience. So he calls himself a slave first. As stated earlier this month, a slave is someone who has no say. Whatever they are told to do, whether they like it or not they have to do it. Even the slave’s body does not belong to him and his master can use or abuse it. For Peter to call himself a slave is a radical move.

To go from the state of an arrogant bully to a subservient slave takes a lot of guts and Peter had plenty of that. He had learnt what is was to repent and realised that without confession with his mouth, indicating a change of heart, there could be no real reconciliation. The passionate Peter had learnt what it was to submit his will, that is, his way of doing things, to the Lord. So now he calls himself a slave first and secondly an apostle.

An apostle is someone who is sent to plant and supports churches. They are the visionary from the Lord. So Peter had come full circle. He jettisoned his former vices to follow the leading of Christ who fashioned him into someone whose calling and election was sure and secure in the knowledge that heaven would be his final resting place.

Today who are you? To find out, build up your most holy faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness and brotherly love!  Read 11P:1-15.