Frontline Ministries International, Inc.  

JOHN 13:37 "Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?"

The Lord will not put upon us more than we are able to bear. The first time Jesus told Peter to "follow Him," Peter immediately left his nets and followed Jesus. Peter had been with Jesus from the beginning. He was bold, confident, and had actually walked on water. Peter was the disciple that recognized Him as the Christ, the son of the Living God. Peter had seen Jesus transfigured. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. But now, Jesus is telling him very bluntly that you can not follow now, but you will be able to follow me later. Peter reacts the way that many of us would. He considers what he has done, the commitments he has made, and what he has given up to follow Jesus. Doesn't he go to church, bless his food, and pray with his children every night before they fall asleep? Haven't I made the choice to follow you, Lord? The answer to each question is YES. But when God says something, my response should be based on what He said not my feelings about what He said. We are on a journey with God. I am further along today than I was yesterday. If this pattern holds true, then I will be further along tomorrow than I am today. It goes without saying that Peter had come a long way. But one key lesson that he needed to learn was you could not progress to the next level in God without a test to tell you where you are and who you are. Am I ready to go to the next level? Can I endure suffering the way Job did? Can I wait as long as Abraham did for the fulfillment of God's promise? Could I wander in the wilderness with Caleb and Joshua and not lose sight or hope in my vision? Yes, Peter, you have made tremendous progress, but you need more preparation for where I am calling you to follow. The Lord told Peter where he was now (not able to follow) are where he would be later (able to follow)." But all Peter heard was the first part. Scripture bears out the truth of what the TRUTH said. "Take heed unto yourself when you think you stand, lest you fall." My confidence can not be in my own strength and determination, because it will take the Spirit of God to accomplish what the Son of God has called me to do.