… because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
Summary: God made each of us in His image. Yet, we, like God, are each unique. Peter’s unique characteristic included doing things.
There are, in the broad scheme of things, different types of people. Some are timid while others are bold. Some people are cautious while their counterparts are daring. When it comes to people in the New Testament, we find some words written by scholars, and others, as in Peter’s case, written by a fisherman.
Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, was what you might call a “man of letters.” Luke was a historian of the first order and a physician. He was also a bit of a detective on the side. It is not surprising that someone like Luke ended up writing the bulk of the New Testament.
Paul, too, was a man of letters. He thought deeply and wrote as a man who knew the power of the written word. Paul was not timid, but he was not known for his passion for adventure. Rather, adventure followed him in his passion for teaching and preaching the Gospel.
Peter was not like Paul or Luke. Peter was not a man of letters. Peter was a man of action.
How does Peter respond to seeing Jesus walking on the water? Does he call to him and ask him to come to the boat? No. Peter says, “Lord, if it is you … tell me to come to you on the water.” Peter wants to do something. (Matthew 14:28)
When Peter witnesses Jesus’ transfiguration, does he bow down and worship? Not Peter. He wants to build something! (Matthew 17:4)
When Judas and the soldiers come to take Jesus away on the night he was betrayed, does Peter cower in fear? No. Peter takes his sword and starts cutting off ears! (John 18: 10)
Jesus knows this about Peter. He does not ask Peter to be someone he is not. When the temple tax needs to be paid, Jesus asks Peter a few simple questions, and then he tells him to do something. “Go to the lake and throw out your line,” says Jesus. The coin for the tax will be in the mouth of the fish Peter catches. (Matthew 17: 24-27)
Peter is not a writer, yet he has something to say. Peter speaks to the people of action in ways that Luke or Paul cannot. Go and do something, says Peter. Do these things: “…add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Like telling Peter to ‘go fish’ for the temple tax, Jesus is now telling Peter to get his things in order for his departure from this life. He is going to “put aside” the “tent of this body” (2 Peter 1:13). There are things Peter still wants to do, things he needs to say. So the Man of Action is forced by circumstance to do God’s will and write down a few words for us.
Thank God he did!
Application: Take action! Do what Peter has advised. Add to your faith today.
Food for Thought: Are there things we should do to prepare for putting the “tent of this body” aside?
I’m going to let the men/women of words answer this one.
Come on…
With a name like “T” you certainly qualify as a man of letters!
🙂
Nice T 😉. I will keep it brief. Yeah, we have work to do while still in this tent. While our spiritual gifts are different the mission is not. Scripture gives us some clear guidance as to our priorities: Acts 1: 8; Matthew 28: 19; 2 Corinthians 5: 18 – 20; Matthew 22: 37 – 40; 2 Timothy 2: 2 are just some verses that make the mission clear.
Thank you, Rich.
Great reference verses!
10-01-2021, Are there things we should do to prepare for putting the “tent of this body” aside?
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Philippians 1:21, Romans 14:8, Luke 12:35
“WHERE DID THE TIME GO???”, A moment ago I was a little 6 year old boy with a can of pork & beans, can opener and spoon in my surplus army pack, following railroad tracks and exploring every empty building I would pass. The world was my playground and I enjoyed every possible moment out of the house exploring. I had a ball.
“WHERE DID MY HEALTH GO???” Today I am a 77 year old man, living the last two years with a major, terminal health issues. Requiring surgery, but unable to get into a hospital due to Covid virus issues with no encouraging news.
God called me out of the world 44 years ago. I recall many details of His work in me since that day. As I look back I see a huge pile of sinful life issues our Lord has taken away from me. Seeing these works of His has allowed me to pass from believing to knowing God is with me. The proof is in His work in my life. He has been so very, very patient with me as I have fallen over and over, always close by and ready to pull me up as I take His extended hand. He shows Himself everyday in His creation and makes His presence known in the incredible peace He has placed in my heart as Christ has cleaned and grown into, occupied the spaces left by my past sins. God spoke to my heart during my declining health and I clearly understood I was being told to live everyday as if it was my last day on earth. My time to put aside the tent of this body is coming closer. I spoke to my wife about and we began to practice this in our lives. What a great experience as I am learning to live looking for God, looking for opportunities to serve, looking at the motivation of my heart each and every moment of each day. Yesterday I received a call and the doctor and hospital are working to schedule me in for surgery 10-28.
TRUST AND OBEY!
Ron,
Thank you for your words today. I find them comforting to read. In the midst of what the world would call a crisis, you tell us that God has given you peace. Your testimony is encouraging. Thank you!