The apostle Peter found victory over his fear and insecurity in God’s grace. He learned to trust the Lord on the journey of being like Jesus, consecrating himself to God. Is there a closet, a door in your heart that has been closed to God, locked, an area of your life, a fear, that you need to give to the Lord? Jesus says, “Follow me.” Give it to the Father. Consecrate it to God.

The Christian life can be described as growth in consecration to God. It is learning to dedicate our lives to God in increasingly greater measure. The apostle Paul urged God’s people to consecrate themselves to God as living sacrifices in grateful worship for what Christ has done for us. This means dedication to knowing and doing the will of God (Rom. 12:1-2).

Jesus is our greatest example of consecration to God. The Gospel of John emphasizes this truth. It is amazing how much of the words of Christ quoted in John refer to Christ’s dedication to doing His Father’s will. To become more like Jesus is to become more dedicated to doing the will of our Father, too.

We have a problem, however, and that is the fact that knowledge of God’s will and a fundamental dedication to doing His will does not automatically result in our actually doing it. We are in a constant battle with the world, our flesh, and the devil. We often struggle with embracing and doing God’s will, especially if it includes suffering.

At times, we all resist consecration like Peter.

Consider this passage from the Gospel of John.

21:15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”^[1]

Jesus said to Peter that, if Peter loved Him, he needed to follow Christ’s will for his life. What was Jesus’s will for Peter? To shepherd His sheep, to lead, care for, to teach His people. But Jesus was calling Peter to something more than this. Jesus continued,

21:18-22 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

Peter’s struggle.

Peter struggled with the loss of liberty and physical suffering foretold by Christ. If he did what Jesus wanted him to do, it would be hard. It meant shame, pain, humiliation. Peter seemed to also struggle with fairness– the possibility that others who serve Christ might not be called to the same level of suffering as what faced him.

Peter did love Jesus. He loved Him deeply despite his weakness. What Peter needed to understand was that true love for Jesus can be measured. Love for Jesus is measured by one’s dedication to doing the will of God, even if it means suffering. Peter needed greater consecration to God, willingness to be vulnerable, willingness to put himself at risk, to follow Jesus.

At times, we all need to be reminded of the goal of life.

The goal of life is not to avoid pain, sorrow, and suffering. The godless world around us continually pounds us with life goals of pleasure, security, and self-preservation. We are urged to do whatever pleases us; do all we can to avoid being uncomfortable, triggered, upset, or stressed; stay away from toxic or negative people, or anyone that doesn’t tell us what we want to hear. Goals like these are folly, unrealistic. Even if we could attain such a life, it would be unfulfilling, empty, and miserable.

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