Posted on by thornstocrowns

Thoughts on Peter’s Repentance: The bitter weeping of repentance

I have been on this thought of repentance for a while now and I hope my thoughts also allow you to think of repentance much more deeply. Over the weekend I read a chapter in Andrew Murray’s book called ‘Absolute Surrender’, my dear friend recommended this book and I would highly recommend it to you. Especially if you are struggling with absolute surrender or in other words repentance to the Lord. I am far into the book, but this chapter, quite shorter than the other chapters I have read, highlighted Peter’s story. I must admit this chapter was so thought-provoking, hence me thinking my thoughts louder to you.

If you were by any chance raised in the church, as kids we infamously were taught that; Peter walked on water with Jesus, he was one of the close disciples called by Jesus, and he loved Jesus so much, that he eventually became a diligent messenger of the Gospel. I personally loved these stories and as a kid, it was a great way to establish my faith and love for Jesus. Our study school teachers may have intentionally left out the fact that Peter was flawed, just like most of us. I understand them, as a kid, I wouldn’t fully understand, but how I wish it was much clearer. Well, I now get to learn more about flaws as I figure out my own flaws with the Lord. Another famous story of Peter that was taught in Sunday school, was Peter denying Jesus. I wouldn’t fully understand the magnitude of this moment for Peter until I had denied Jesus in my actions.

Back to the book, after reading this short chapter in Andrew Murray’s book, I think, it brought much understanding to the denial and what it meant. In my thoughts I was thinking, how could Peter a man who walked on water with Jesus, gave up his career as a fisherman to follow Jesus, saw Jesus perform miracles, and defended Jesus still deny him. Andrew had the answers to my questions, he said in his book “I do not know a man in the Bible who gives us greater comfort. When we look at his character so full of failures and at what Christ made him by the power of the Holy Spirit, there is hope for every one of us.” This immediately gave me hope! As I read this, I thought of my own failures and how much at that moment I related to Peter. But if not for the power of the Holy Spirit. Maybe as you read this, you feel the same way and I hope that gives you comfort.

The turning point of Peter

Think with me for a minute, would you? Peter denied Jesus, right? something he said he wouldn’t do even when Jesus said he would. The time comes, and at the third crow of the rooster, Peter denied Jesus. This was just as Jesus had told him. He must have been devastated, disappointed, and guilted by his action. This fulfillment led Peter to weep bitterly because he knew what this meant to him. But according to Andrew Murray, he said that weeping bitterly was Peter’s turning point. What changed in Peter’s heart in this moment? Most scholars of the bible and theologians say that this was the moment of Peter’s repentance. I think this was not the idea I had for Peter’s repentance, bitter weeping? Why would a friend of Jesus weep bitterly, he should have an easy turn point, right? He worked with Jesus for three years, and he surely must not weep, what does he even have to weep about? Well, he wept bitterly because in that moment he knew that his self-will was not greater than God’s will. In his action of denying Christ, it meant that he did not deny himself. Andrew says, “There is no choice for us; we must either deny self or deny Christ. There are two great powers fighting each other – the self-nature in the power of sin and Christ in the power of God. Either of these must rule within us.” Peter in his realization of choosing self knew he denied God and this is Peter’s turning point. What is yours?

Peter was not the only one

Sincere repentance comes with changed actions. Peter showed us this after this turning point. He was about Jesus’s work until his very last breath. He spread the Gospel and I am certain that came with a lot of denying of self. He was human just as we are, so I could imagine that even in the temptations to choose himself, he would go back to that very moment he denied Christ. He was not a man without sin, but his actions showed that he chose Christ even when he was put to death. He was persecuted for the Gospel, yet he continued to pursue Christ. The bitter weeping meant something, it meant a change of heart, an entire purge of the choice of self.

You may be exactly where Peter was, given the choice between self or Christ. Peter was not the only one who had to fight between the two choices. If like Peter you chose self and denied Christ, do not be guilted by your actions, but instead make it your turning point. You can change the choice you made and fully accept Christ. Walk with Christ like Peter did and find Christ again. You may not have a rooster crow for the third time like Peter did, but you do know the actions of self that drew you further away from Christ. It may cause you to weep because you then realize the magnitude of your actions, but take heart, weeping bitterly is sometimes what is needed for us to remember Christ and repent. 

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God. - 1 Peter 2:16 (AMP)
for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. - 1 Peter 1:23 (AMP)
Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. - 1 Peter 5:6 (AMPC)

It is time for you to take your rightful place. It is time to trade thorns for crowns.

Much love,

Kholiwe

Posted on by thornstocrowns

Godly Convictions: The antidote to repentance

As a Christian, I have heard people say this too many times, either directly to me or to others. Those who are not of the Christian faith say our faith has a bunch of rules and obligations, surely we must be in bondage in their mind. Are we truly free while chained to the rules and obligations of your faith? A quick response to this is yes we are! I have never had a quick response to this question, because to some extent they are right, our Christian faith does have several rules and obligations. However, what they may not yet fully comprehend is the freedom that comes with these rules and obligations. Simply put, the Godly conviction (“rules and obligations”) we have lead us to repentance, over and over again. We need these Godly convictions as they are the antidote to our repentance. While it may seem that we are in bondage to others, these convictions fuel our continued walk in freedom with Christ Jesus.

What are Godly convictions?

By definition, conviction is to hold firmly to a belief or opinion. Godly convictions therefore would simply be to hold firmly to the beliefs and opinions that come from God. Where do we find these convictions? In the Bible, the very word spoken by God through people to his people (us). If let’s say one has never come across a Bible, they still innately know what is good and evil. It doesn’t take the Bible to convince them otherwise now does it? Take for example, if I was not of Christian faith and mistreated another helpless person, I would still have some innate thought that this was wrong. But if this is not a conviction I have, it would be difficult for me to want to change or in other words repent. This is why Godly convictions are important because they are catalysts that thrust us into repentance. What are some of these Godly convictions we must uphold:

  • Put must God first! – by first, this is above other gods, self, others, things, etc (read Exodus 20:3)
  • You must love others as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
  • You must live a life different from that of the world. (read 1 John 2: 15-17)
  • You must live a life of genuine servitude. (read Romans 12:1)
  • You must forgive others (read Mark 11:25)

I could list several more Godly convictions, but there are many, and the Bible has them all. I wanted to share these 5 in particular because these are the core Godly Convictions that have to this day pushed me and others towards repentance of our sins.

Godly convictions in action

The question of bondage to these Godly convictions may come up, and sometimes, it is just so hard to answer them. However, what would help answer these questions is an already-written story in the Bible. There are many stories of people who held firmly to their Godly convictions. One of my favorite Bible stories is that of Daniel, talk about living a life differently from the world he lived in. He could have like most conformed to the Babylonian ways of life, but he took his Godly convictions and put them in action. In his story, we notice that not many took it well, to the extent that they requested he be punished. He was punished for putting God first, think about how strong his beliefs were that even the food sacrificed to idols, he would not eat. When punished in the lions’ den, an amazing thing happens, God keeps him safe. He comes out of the den of lions alive! People hear of Daniel’s God and in my head, I can’t help but imagine that there were several people who said I need to repent from idol worshipping and worship the God of Daniel. (read Daniel 6:26-27). What a beautiful story! There are many other notable people that put their Godly convictions in action and we see their repentance or that of others through them. Here are a few;

  • Job – Even in great suffering Job held firm his beliefs and opinions of God. I am sure those that saw Job fully restored, had to repent.
  • Samson- He struggled with getting with the wrong women, only towards the end of his life were he lost it all that his Godly convictions were evident and they helped him repent before his immediate death.
  • David – Anionted by God to be King, David was the least amongst them, but he had Godly convictions and through out the Psalms we see it. The many times he would seek repentance for his sins. This is because he had such a reverence for God. The Bible says he was a man after God’s heart. I can tell from his story that this man’s was relentless in his beliefs.
  • Paul – need I say more? I write so much about Paul because talk about thorns to crowns! You would think he is the only character I know in the bible. Paul went from persecuting Christians to leading them to Christ! Paul’s repentance story is so different. He went from having no Godly convictions to being so transformed that that was all he could talk about. Many came to repentance and believing in Jesus because Paul took his Godly convictions quite seriously. Just read all the books written by him. His message of repentance is quite evident.

To wrap this up, you must also have your story to tell. If you are of christian faith, your Godly convictions should be evident in your life and should always push you towards repentance. You may not be thrown in a lions’ den like Daniel, but you must hold firm to your beliefs and opinions of God even when it is not well accepted by others. If you are not of christian faith, but are thinking about it, then use these Godly convictions to push you towards repentance. It is time for you to take your rightful place, it is time to trade thorns for crowns!

Much love!

Xholiwe