Predestined To Be

Many of you who really know me; know that I normally go with my emotions rather than logic. I act and react emotionally and impulsively.

 Imagine being someone who can read between the lines of what you’re not saying, picking up on the slightest changes in your tone or body posture. Walking into a room and feeling every emotion and trusting their gut and be able to respond to situations quickly. While having an incredibly deep desire to emotional connect, with a kind, nonjudgmental acceptance, feeling an emotional bond with most people almost immediately.  It’s like waves crashing over you without a break.

God gave me this ability as I’m sure He has some of you. Unfortunately, it is a great gift it can also be a great detriment. not taking the time to think things through can get me into trouble. And sometimes it’s not because my instincts are wrong, but because I end up in situations I’m just not prepared for at that moment.  I may reach out for help not always in the way others understand or feel I should.

I’m not writing this to make excuses for myself.  I’m writing it so hopefully someone else living their life the best they know how to might be going through the same trials.  Our walks with God don’t all look the same. We’re influenced by our backgrounds, variations in beliefs, and individual personalities. And even though the goal is for us all to become “more like God,” that doesn’t mean we become indistinguishable from each other. God created great variety in people and I believe He did that for a reason.

We should not be a person that we are not no matter how much people want to change us or try to make us to be the person that they envision we should be.  When we do things that we don’t feel are appropriate we know, He shows us.   Yes, God delivers reproof from others but we need to know Him well enough to be able to differentiate Him from others  as Pastor Jerls said Love never manipulates!  We are who God, MY Shepherd made us to be. He leads and directs my path, He becomes personal He is with me and He protects me.    

I can relate to Peter often not thinking (or seeming like it at least) before he speaks and the way he “gets so involved in everything and is just so interested in what Jesus says.”

Of all Jesus’ disciples, we have the most information about Peter. Not only was he a part of the Lord’s inner circle, but also, due to his enthusiasm, he was also at the center of many gospel stories. He was zealous and impulsive.  Matthew 14:22-33When he walked on the water. Here we see Peter acting on the right inclination, but then he finds himself in over his head (pun intended).

In Matthew 17:1-6 There Jesus was transfigured before him and in in his enthusiasm  he saw  this big picture that turned into this idea “I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’  His response to this unusual experience is typical of what I would do . It’s not that his idea of building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah was bad per se. It’s just that it was impulsive and not well-thought-out.   Wonder if Matthew remembered it for posterity.

Although our tendency to speak before thinking can lead to a lot of foot-in-mouth, this attribute also comes with its strengths. It’s Peter who has the presence of mind to stand up and say something in the second chapter of Acts. In the tumultuous situation surrounding the Spirit’s arrival and the crowd’s response to the chaos, Peter preaches to the crowd, and over 3,000 people choose to follow Jesus.

In Luke 22:55-61 One of the best things about being in touch with his feelings so much good comes out of the ability to respond in emotionally appropriate ways and build relationships based on an empathetic nature. But the effect of stress made him respond in irrational and unpredictable ways. When Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times, if we found ourselves in this situation would we respond like Peter did?  It is extremely likely that I would do so even after saying I wouldn’t  It can be hard for me to get my bearings in an overly stressful and demanding situation. Luke 22:62 we see in the moment he realizes that he has indeed failed Jesus. He weeps bitterly.  He had failed Jesus.  Being the warmest, kindest and empathetic person, we care passionately about how people think and feel. We tend to take our failures in stride-unless we feel we’ve hurt or betrayed someone. That failure will eat us up.

In John 21:7 after Jesus’ death, the disciples return to what they know best-fishing. When the resurrected Jesus shows up but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” His response is so perfectly Peter and demonstrates the best thing about him. 

He enthusiastically jumps overboard and swims out to Jesus.  He doesn’t let his shame keep him from his Lord. Peter values reconciliation and relational restoration even more than his dignity.

I’ll close with this Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14  O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I stand; you perceive my thoughts from a distance.  You mark when I go out and when I lie down; all my ways are open to you.  A word is not even on my tongue and you, O Lord, are completely aware of it. You enfold me from in front and from behind, and you place your hand upon me. Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension, far too sublime for me to attain… You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am wonderfully made; awesome are your works, as I know very well.

Chose to be who God meant for you to be.  Trust HIM and His ways always!  Remember we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Be like Peter value reconciliation and restoration with the Lord above all else.