Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Luke 22:24-34
by: Angie Osborn.
It is so easy to take the "familiar stories of our faith" as a whole and not see the details. In verse 32, Jesus tells Peter that he will fail, but he will also "turn back." As Christians, although we are always striving to be Christlike, we sometimes fall. After that fall, we can get up and keep moving forward in our faith. God uses those times to teach us and humble us if we are willing to repent and turn back.
Jesus did not stop with telling Peter that his faith would fail, or even with telling him that he would turn back. Jesus went on to say that when Peter turned back, he should then strengthen his brothers in the faith. We, too, can use our shortcomings and mistakes to learn and to help others. When we turn back, we must use our new understanding to help encourage, guide, and strengthen others in the faith.