The Remarkable Trust of Christ
It's a terrible business plan. But the Kingdom is different.
Luke 22:31-34 | Philippians 4:8-9 | Gospels during Lent: none (worship with the Church)
When you have returned, strengthen your brothers and sisters.
Here’s Jesus, trusting Peter in the future to take care of the rest of the disciples before Peter even denies knowing him. Is that prevenient grace? It’s something like that. Whatever it is, it’s remarkable. The best of corporate and political leaders today would never transmit such trust.
But God in Christ is different.
Paul knew this. He’d already experience such a grace-filled transmittal of trust. Paul was the chief prosecutor and persecutor of Christians. But that all changed and Paul became the chief proponent and planter of churches.
Does this give you hope? That whoever you think you aren’t, whatever you think you can’t, God would bestow upon you the trust to do Kingdom stuff, if you but receive the responsibility?
The God of peace will be with you.
Luke 22:31-34
“Simon, Simon, look! Satan has asserted the right to sift you all like wheat. However, I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers and sisters.”
Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!”
Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.”
Philippians 4:8-9
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
Prayer
God,
You are a God of justice, the determiner of all that’s right and good. In Christ, you have made way for this righteousness by his example, his identification and solidarity with all people. Help us as we seek further his way, lead us in the specifics of our own lives and our striving for that of others. Call us to the justice he’s established for the sake of the world.
Through your mercy, grace, and love,
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.