Like Peter…

Those of you who know me well know that I speak my mind.I’m an external processor, or in other words I need to hear out loud how things sound to know if they make sense or not. And I’m an extrovert. I’m likely to think (hopefully think, though that isn’t always a given) quickly. I’m passionate about my convictions.Often to the consternation of others. And on the other hand, some people seem to really want to hear some of the words I speak.

I’m like Peter in that way like from this story in Matthew 16:

Scene 1:

Peter tells Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus blesses him and tells him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”

A few verses later…

Scene 2:

Jesus tells Peter he will suffer and die at the hands of his own people. Note: Jesus also tells Peter he will rise, but Peter must not hear that because he answers, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”  But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Put these things together, and it means…

Sometimes I’m right on…

                                                                             and other times I put my foot right into my mouth.

Sometimes people like me and want to hang out with me…

                                                                                          and other times I’m not invited to the party.

Sometimes I’m speaking for the good of someone…

                                      and other times it means I’ve talked about someone in an unkind way.

Sometimes I’m on the inside…

                                                                                                            and other times I’m on the outside.

Sometimes people like me and speak well of me…

                                                                                                       and other times they speak about me.

My prayer tonight:

Work in me, God, so that I am able to speak about things revealed to me by you. Have mercy on me, Lord, for those times that I set my mind on human things and not divine things. Praise be to you, God, that you love me just as I am, in all the ways I’m like Peter. Amen

A question for you:

In the midst of these elections and the results and the conversations, or yelling, or silence, with whom do you identify in the Bible? Why? How might Peter better build relationships with others as we pray for God’s kingdom to come? And we?