Rise above your Past

10-13-08

SCRIPTURE
"But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words." (Acts 2:14)

OBSERVATION
Is it any surprise that it was Peter who stepped forward to become the spokesman for the others? After all, wasn't it Peter who seemed to suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder as he stepped out of the boat, but couldn't keep his focus on Jesus and nearly drowned?
Wasn't this the same Peter who fell asleep in the garden with his fellow disciples, when they were supposed to keep watch for the Lord, who was suffering through His toughest challenge? Wasn't this the same Peter who, although proclaimed his allegiance to Jesus, denied any association with Him three times?

Yet Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was able to rise above and beyond his past.

APPLICATION
I can relate with Peter in many respects. To see his radical reversal from all his mess-ups and failures, to becoming one of the greatest leaders of the New Testament church. This assures me of the promises that God is indeed "a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness" (Neh. 9:17), which gives me hope.

After all, like Peter, there have been occasions where my surrounding circumstances have drawn my attention away from Him I’ve lost focus. I found myself drowning in my own fears, worries, and insecurities. There have been occasions where I have "fallen asleep"-- my sensors have been dulled by busyness, poor time management, tiredness. Where I've failed to keep my spirit refreshed and attentive to be able to fulfill what He's asked of me in my marriage, with my family, with my responsibilities in ministry. And there have been times where I failed to heed His warnings and failed to trust the promptings He's placed on my heart, just to do it my way, and finding myself discouraged and disheartened.

But, Peter gives me hope. Just as he was able to rise above his past, so must I. And just as the Holy Spirit empowered him to do so, my reliance must also be upon the strength and power of Him to move past my past and into the future that He has for me.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your lovingkindness that never gives up on me. Forgive me for my past-- for times that I have neglected you and failed to trust in your ways. Forgive me for failing to keep my eyes away from distractions that have surrounded me. Empower me to become all that you desire me to be. Refresh me in your Holy Spirit today. Give me LIFE, here and now and COURAGE to point my friends to You: the Life Giver.