Called to Chains

 

Called to CHAINS

Picture credit: Public Domain CC0

Not only was Peter called to change, but he was also called to chains.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He told Peter:

I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will tie you and take you where you don’t want to go. (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) (John 21:18-19 – NCV)

 

As I have said before Peter refused to be crucified right side up, as Jesus was, feeling himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. This is in stark contrast to the night Jesus was betrayed, when he denied the Lord three times.

Learn from this that early failures in our walk with Christ do not lock us into a pattern of repeated failure. Fears and failures of the past may act as a spur and goad to greater devotion in the future. Failures may also build in us gentleness to the failures of others, us as we consider our own vulnerability to failure.

It occurs to me also that the chains Peter endured before his crucifixion could teach us another lesson:

Restricting circumstances in our work, marriage, or other areas of our lives should not seem strange to us. They may actually give us an opportunity to shine for our Lord in the very place He has planted us. As Peter was given an opportunity to glorify God in sharing in His suffering, so our restricted circumstances may bring us to a crowning act of devotion to our Lord in the final days of our lives.

Early failures, like that of Peter’s parallels the experience of a bird with a broken wing. With loving care the bird can fly again. Under the tender care of our Lord, we, too, can soar into the purified air of God’s mercy and grace:

The Broken Wing*

(16, 17th August 1997)

                         I saw a bird with broken wing

                         That in its anguish could not sing,

                         Could not bring its breath to raise

                         A single note of heartfelt praise.

 

                         I saw this creature with its eye

                         Dimmed with pain, but lifted high,

                         Beholding sky and visions bright,

                         As though there were spectres in the night.

 

                         For broken bone and bloody stain

                         Caused hope within its breast to wane,

                         And rain upon its spirit fear

                         That flight would cost a price too dear.

 

                         But fly once more it did, my friend,

                         And swoop the valley end to end,

                         And rend the heavens with its song,

                         Though healing seemed to take so long.

 

                         I thought that broken wings can be

                         A parable to you and me.

                         For we, when serving Truth and Light,

                         Are sometimes wounded in the fight.

 

                         The darts of Satan find their mark

                         And plunge our spirits into dark.

                         The spark of pure devotion falls,

                         And seems stone deaf to mercy’s calls.

 

                         Our wing of praise or prayer is found

                         With wounds, and, fallen to the ground,

                         Unsound, we think our days of worship gone,

                         And find no breast to rest upon.

 

                         And yet, if patiently we wait

                         In hopeful or in restful state,

                         Soon or late, healing will arise

                         From God’s own heart – our only Prize.

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