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Do you perform your service faithfully and with complete devotion? What motivates you to carry out your service? The example of Peter shows us that we can fail and how disappointment can overwhelm us. But we also see how we can emerge from it and serve faithfully and devotedly.
Loyalty in service
In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul uses the term "steward" to illustrate the seriousness of a Christian's service. He explains that a steward is expected to be faithful in his work (see 1 Corinthians 4:2). What may sound self-evident to the reader has, upon closer examination, a far greater significance. Anyone who has taken on the role of steward, and consequently has been entrusted with the responsibility for a certain area or task, must distinguish themselves above all through one thing: faithfulness in their service.
Jesus Christ also emphasizes the necessity of faithfulness in service. In Luke 12:42-43, he speaks of how blessed it is when a servant returns to his master to be found performing his work, and not idle or even gluttonous.
We all appreciate people who keep their word, faithfully and responsibly complete assigned tasks, or keep appointments. However, we also know those who, while showing a willingness to help, then fall behind and always have an explanation ready for failing to fulfill their task or for not showing up for an appointment.
As children of God, Jesus Christ has called us to follow Him faithfully. Every born-again Christian among us once heard the voice of our Lord and Master and followed it. After sincere repentance and turning away from our sinful works of the flesh, we have promised the Lord Jesus to follow Him with a clear conscience and to remain faithful.
Not one's own strength and abilities, but love for Jesus must be the main motive for serving and following him.
Zeal and Failure of Peter
Peter was a very zealous disciple of Jesus. At the beginning of his discipleship, he was brimming with enthusiasm and devotion to Jesus and demonstrated a great sense of duty in his ministry. When Jesus announced His suffering and death in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter spoke these words to Him: “ Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow me later.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you! ” (John 13:36-37). Peter was completely convinced of his devotion to Jesus, so much so that even death was not too high a price for him. But Jesus saw his heart and his future and replied, “ Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times !” (John 13:38). The fact that his zeal was so dampened must have been very sobering for Peter.
Later, when Jesus was interrogated before the high priest, the situation Jesus had foretold came to pass. Peter had followed Jesus into the high priest's courtyard and there experienced what it means to become a traitor out of fear of others. When Jesus then turned around and looked Peter in the eye, Peter realized the following: He had failed and betrayed his Lord. Accused by his conscience, he went out and wept bitterly (cf. Luke 22:61-62).
After Jesus' words were fulfilled, Peter witnessed Jesus' crucifixion, his agonizing death, and his eventual laying in the rock-hewn tomb. How could he atone for his betrayal? Three days later, when some women spread the news that Jesus' tomb was empty, he ran to the tomb with John and saw it for himself. But instead of remembering Jesus' words about His resurrection on the third day, hopelessness and resignation overwhelmed him. In the following days, the disciples gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders. During this time, they witnessed Jesus defying the laws of nature by entering through the locked door and greeting them with the words, " Peace be with you " (John 20:19). Eight days later, He appeared to them a second time and showed Thomas the nail marks he had received during the crucifixion.
Peter's reaction after his failure
How must Peter have felt in those moments? He was all too aware that he had denied the Lord and, as a result, lacked the joy and devotion of discipleship. The disappointment at his own failure still sat deep in his heart. Yet his heart was not yet ready to throw himself before the Lord in complete humility and repentance and confess his guilt.
Peter saw no future in discipleship and decided to return to his old life as a fisherman. The other disciples followed him. But that night they were unsuccessful and returned to the shore empty-handed. Just before they reached the shore, a man spoke to them from the bank and asked about their catch. At his instruction, they cast their net to the right side of the boat and caught such a large quantity of fish that they could no longer pull the net out of the water. Then John recognized that this man was Jesus and exclaimed, “ It is the Lord! ” (John 21:7).
Now there was no stopping Peter; he realized he needed Jesus and His forgiveness, and everything inside him broke. Longing for his Savior, he girded his outer garment and threw himself into the water to be with Jesus as quickly as possible. It was still about 90 meters to the shore, but Peter didn't want to wait any longer. He didn't care what the other disciples might think of him. No, his sole aim was to reach Jesus as quickly as possible at that moment.
Only when we are connected to Him and realize that we cannot get far with our own abilities and will often fail, can He work in and through us.
The right motive for following
After breakfast together, Jesus again called him to discipleship and entrusted him with the leadership of God's flock. Three times the Lord emphasized the importance of being guided by the right motive in discipleship. Not one's own strength and abilities, but love for Jesus must be the primary motivation for service and discipleship. When Peter asked about John's future, Jesus made it clear that knowing this was irrelevant for Peter. With the words, " Follow me! " (John 21:22), He made it clear that what was important to Jesus was the personal relationship with Peter and his faithfulness.
The example of Peter clearly shows us where it can lead if we are self-assured in our discipleship and rely on our own abilities. How quickly we experience disappointment when we realize that our own strength is insufficient and a work or ministry remains unsuccessful! Sometimes we are caught off guard by sins and our own desires and then ask ourselves: Lord, how could this have happened? Are we not aware that without Jesus we will always fail? The disappointment over our own failure often leads us to give up and—much like Peter—hopelessness takes hold of us. If we remain in this state and do not experience a salutary breaking that leads to true repentance, the adversary has an easy time making our failures painfully clear to us. The consequences are aimless drifting and a joyless Christianity without victory.
Faithful in service – dependent on Jesus
But Jesus didn't pull us out of the mud for that reason. His intention was, and is, to lead us one day as his pure bride into his kingdom of heaven. He wants to see faithfulness and devotion in us in service, with love for him serving as the foundation. Especially in challenging situations, it is important to remain faithful to him and prove ourselves in various trials. Jesus wants to make us aware that we absolutely must build a relationship with him, similar to that between the vine and the grapevine. Only when we are connected to him and realize that we won't get far with our own abilities and will often fail, can he work in and through us.
May love for Jesus be the primary motivation in our service! Let us faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ and continually remember that we can only bear fruit in absolute dependence on Him!
Matthias Krüger
Municipality of Schwegenheim