Trust

After worship several people asked me to repeat the 5 words that make up that continuum of Trust that we found in the life of Peter. So for those of you that missed it, here it is once again:

TRUST as POSSIBILITY

Follow Me Matthew 4:18-19
Peter’s commitment was one of possibility. I’ll tag along. I’ll risk losing the catch for a few days and see what comes to pass. I've heard about this guy, seen him at work, think he might have something to add to my life. So I’ll risk the possibility.
While this may seem like an amazing reflection of Jesus’ charisma it may not be all that it appears to be. Could it be that Jesus had spent time in Capernaum before he called Peter? Verse 13 says that he made his home in Capernaum. The bible is infamous for compressing time for the convenience of the story. Even though he had a reputation for being quite impulsive, it may be that Peter and Jesus had an established relationship before Peter was willing to drop it all and follow.


TRUST as PROBATION

Walking on Water Matthew 14:28-31
Peter gets a huge black eye on this one. Jesus’ own words cause us to focus on Peter’s lack of faith. We shouldn’t miss the point that Peter was the only one willing to risk, and for a few brief steps Peter was pulling off what only one other person in the history of humanity (Jesus) was able to accomplish. Peter participated in a miracle because he was willing to risk.
Probation, in this case, is not testing to see if God will forgive. Jesus says “don’t put the Lord your God to the test." But that was an issue of sin and temptation.” God offers to be put to the test in another way. In Malachi 3:10 God says “put me to the test on this… If you’ll be faithful in your giving, see if I don’t bless you in return.” Put God on probation with your faithfulness and not faithlessness and see if God doesn't bless you.


TRUST as PROFESSION

You Are the Christ Matthew 16:13-16

Peter has had enough experience to see who Jesus is. When given the opportunity he speaks his mind on the subject. Peter makes a profession of faith. Does he really believe it? Well, he’ll turn from it and deny his relationship with Christ, so his belief and his depth of commitment to that belief statement are not one and the same. Yet a profession of faith is another depth of trust.


TRUST as PASSION

Feed My Sheep after the Denial John 21:15-17

Do you love me more that these? Yes…. ….Feed my lambs
Do you love me? Yes…. ….Tend my sheep
Do you love me? Lord you know everything…. Who I am, what I’ve denied…. You know the depth of my love… Feed my sheep
Peter is asked by Jesus to put his own love of Christ to the test. It's time to explore the depths of trust and see if this proclamation of a passionate love for God is what Peter claims it is. Will Peter go deep into his faith? Will he take on the ministry Jesus is proposing for him?


TRUST as PROVOCATION

Stepping up in Acts 4 Acts 4: 5-12

There comes a point when your passion overflows to provocation. You are willing to provoke change, provoke ideological conversation. Trust for Peter was to no longer rely on Christ to take the lead and Peter to stand behind him, but to embody Christ in his life and provoke others to that kind of change. Provocation means putting career, reputation, even life on the line to make the deep changes in our community, city, nation and world that will one day reflect the Kingdom that God wishes to establish.