Navigating Rough Seas - Peter

Week 4 - “Jesus is the Ultimate Evaluator”

Read Matthew 26: 69-75

“Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Showing up to a new job is intimidating for several reasons. There are often three things going through my head during these seasons: will I succeed here?, will my coworkers like me?, will my supervisors find potential in me?. Oftentimes I have wondered and cared what others will think of me if they know who I truly am, a follower of Jesus. It becomes easy to put up a different front in the presence of those who sit on your qualification boards, are in charge of what watch or duty you stand, or have a hand in your career evaluations. Why wouldn’t you want the person “grading” you, like you? But the truth is, Jesus is the ultimate and only evaluator. It is easy to fall into the way of the world when your eyes are not focused on the one true person who “grades” you, Jesus. 

We see where Peter struggled with this when he disowns Jesus and denies him three times. Peter was a disciple of Jesus who walked alongside him daily. He was a close companion of Jesus and played a significant role in spreading the gospel in the face of persecution. But as we see in the text above, when Peter was faced with the judgment of the world around him, he became blinded and unfocused on what was truly important. Each time Peter denies knowing Jesus, I think of him just trying to play it “cool”. When we worry about what other people will think of us or are afraid of failure, we are falling into Satan’s trap. Satan wants us to play it “cool” in the presence of non-believers. Satan wants us to turn from following Jesus and follow the world. But God calls us to be holy, which means to be set apart. As Christians we are called to be different and we are called to something much greater than our flesh. 

Everyday we should put effort into everything we do. We should want to succeed and grow wherever God has placed us. But do all this knowing that Jesus is your ultimate evaluator. Placing your need to be liked by people around you above your love and obedience to Jesus is not what you have been called to do. Do not deny Jesus to the world around you. Walk in obedience and spread His light everywhere you go! 

John 1:7 “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.”

Discussion:

1. In what situations do you feel most vulnerable to wonder what people will think of you? During these situations do you feel more anxious or on edge?

2. Think of a time you have tried to fit in with a group of non believers. What things did you do or thoughts did you have that are not in line with God’s word?

3. Brainstorm how you can approach meeting new people or starting a new job without compromising your walk with Jesus and instead walking in obedience and spreading his light. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy every time we fall short of your glory. We come before you acknowledging our weaknesses and failures. We ask for your forgiveness when we stray from your plan and become entangled in the sins of the world. You are the ultimate evaluator. Give us the strength and courage to be the light in the darkness, to shine your love and truth to those around us. Amen.