Faith or Fear?
Scripture - Luke 22:54-62
Isn't it ironic that the same Peter [Simon] who Jesus had prayed for turned around hours later and denied Him? Jesus' prayer didn't negate Peter's will, he still did what he chose to do. Imagine how things would have turned out if Jesus had not prayed for him.
You see? Peter was impulsive and responded to the people who recognized him as a follower of Jesus out of fear. Usually it is an unknowing that causes us to fear. Not knowing what would happen to him if he acknowledged being a follower of Jesus, Peter both lied and denied Him at the same time.
Imagine the guilt, shame and condemnation he must have felt after the rooster crowed and Jesus turned to look at him across the courtyard (v. 61). But I guess it's not too hard for us to imagine because many of us have been in Peter's shoes and responded to life, people and situations out of fear too.
Fear is the absence of faith. Unlike Peter who gave in to fear, we must push past our fears and trust God no matter what situation we find ourselves in. We must stop and ask ourselves, "What means more to me in this situation; pleasing God or pleasing myself or others?" If you said self or others, then you're walking in fear of what people may think or say. You can't live your faith trying to appease people. You must only please God.
The truth is, people are going to have an opinion of you whether you're living for God or not. You mustn't care what they think or what they might do to you. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:7, "When a man's ways pleases the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." We must trust God and take Him at His word.
Pleasing God = faith. Pleasing people = fear. Whichever you choose determines your outcome.
Journal
- What drives your actions; faith in pleasing God or fear in pleasing people?
- If you answered "fear in pleasing people" why have you allowed what people say or think to trump what God says and thinks of you?
- Spend time talking to Jesus about your fears today. Ask Him to turn your fear into faith. Allow Him to love on you and fill your heart with His light.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. -2 Timothy 1:7
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