June 11

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But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30

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🔊 It was the great quality of perseverance that made Peter the outstanding disciple of the Gospels, to be matched later by the same quality in Paul.  They persevered in loving Jesus, although their love was imperfect; they persevered in humbling themselves and seeking forgiveness when they were convicted of sin.  Once Peter told Jesus to depart from him – Luke 5:8, indicating that Jesus should give up trying to make him a better man.  Jesus had to call Peter from fishing three times before he finally gave it up and trusted Jesus to provide for him – Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10-11; John 21:19.  But Jesus does not give up easily, and it is by His faithfulness that we are saved, not by ours!  Peter went through the deep waters of his own fickle heart – denying the Lord in the moment of temptation.  But Peter’s heart broke, and through the tears of brokenness come great prayers of surrender, not commitment.  Our great prayers of commitment are matched by great failure!  But it is when we are broken that the real test of discipleship comes.  Will we refuse to wallow in failure, and instead hand the broken pieces over to God, to remake us as trophies of His amazing grace?  Peter’s destiny was totally undeserved, but that is what grace does – it takes poor nothings and makes them kings and priests, to sit on thrones with the Son of God.