From Doubt to Dedication: The Story of a Newly Formed Fisher of Men (2)

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The second step in Peter’s arduous journey from doubt to dedication was a point called disturbance. What is meant by that is that Peter’s soul had to be agitated to rid himself of the doubt with which he had previously been plagued. Notice the text once again, when after Peter yielded to Christ’s request and the fishing net was filled that, ”When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken…” (Luke 5:8-9). Another way we might word it is that Peter’s soul was stirred by what he saw. The evidence was clearly set before his very eyes and was too powerful to neglect or ignore. However, Peter’s life is not the only New Testament example of where disturbance is noticed as a natural progressive step toward penitent obedience. Think about the response recorded to the opening gospel sermon at which time the church was ushered into existence (Acts 2). It was Peter this time preaching, and throughout he spent a considerable amount of time from the psalms and prophets proving to those gathered that Jesus was the Christ. And as he concluded, this statement summarized his charge: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (vs. 36). Hearing and knowing the gravity of their actions, the very next verse demonstrates the disturbance experienced on that occasion that “now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (vs. 37). Their souls, just like Peter’s, had to be stirred up toward penitence and that is exactly what happened. An indelible impression was left on his soul that, yes, at times was ignored, but never forgotten. Every single soul in this world needs to have their doubt disturbed by the gospel, just as did Peter; and thus lead them one step closer toward the ultimate goal of close adherence to God’s will.

Finally, then, Peter arrives at the desire destination—dedication. Yes, he had doubted (which would have led many today to view him as a lost cause), but he allowed that doubt to be tested and his soul was stirred. Now see the end result of the events that took place: “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him” (Luke 5:11). And to preliminarily settle the matter, Strong’s defines the word “followed” as “to be in the same way.” In other words Peter did not just physically follow Jesus in His travels. This word implies much more than that. It means that Peter literally made his life an embodiment of Jesus’ teachings and will. He loyally accompanied Jesus through the peaks and the valleys of His earthly ministry and beyond. And while his actions did not always reflect Christ’s will, his life as a whole still reflects a faithful existence on Peter’s part. Such dedication should be reflected in the life of every child of God and disciple of Jesus Christ today. Like Peter, not everything in our lives will reflect Christ’s will, but we must determine that our lives as a whole will be faithfully dedicated to His service. The New Testament pictures this dedication through various terms, a favorite of mine being the concept of steadfastness. Literally, that word carries with it the idea of one who digs their heals into the ground to such a degree that they are able to withstand whatever may betide. Such generally characterized the life of Peter and must characterize our lives as well. And perhaps Peter had his own shortcomings and the regret that accompanied them in mind as by inspiration he would later write, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end of the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (I Peter 1:13). Peter’s desire was that the dedication of every child of God would equal and surpass that of his that we might all look forward to the realization of that great hope that shall be revealed to us in the last day.

Some journeys are shorter and less arduous, while some may extend for years and face extreme hardships. But however long and hard one’s road from doubt to dedication may be, the effort is worth the blessings that will be experienced in the life that encompasses the true principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I imagine that if we could talk to Peter today and ask him about the trials he faced in life and the hardships he experienced from both the good and bad decisions he made, he would express a degree of regret for his mistakes, but readily admit that overall anything he endured for the sake of remaining true and loyal to the cause of his Master was worth it. Will you allow yourself the same opportunities that Peter even now is enjoying. If so, allow your doubt to be tested and overcome that your journey might ultimately lead you to a glorious life of dedication in service to Jesus Christ.

-Andy Brewer

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