Something hit me this morning as I was meditating on the three denials of Peter found in Luke 22. After his last denial the scripture says, "Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter."
Then I began to speculate...
- It must have been true love in the eyes of Jesus that awakened Peter's failure.
- Judas' betrayal and the sudden arrest of Jesus created such angst and confusion in Peter that it uncharacteristically froze him in this flash of crisis.
- The impact on Peter was so great because of some deep and unknown betrayal from his own past.
Then it hit me. I love to speculate.
Getting a little nugget of insight makes me feel engaged, which could make me feel really good about myself, which is a slippery slope leading to pride. Don't get me wrong. A reverent imagination, while listening to God during times of meditation, is a rich blessing from God. Yet, I have an instinct to worship blessings instead of simply worshiping the Blesser.
I carry a quote from Larry Crabb around with me. It's the only thing stuck between the pages of my Bible, and I use it as a reminder of "how to be with". How to be with a friend. How to be with Scripture. How to be with myself.
My job is to follow the Spirit's movement desiring an aroused appetite for God that could lead to somewhere good. To tag along with the present Spirit into this life, into scripture, into one another and into His Very Self.
Wow.
His Spirit and Life in me! Moving in my bloodstream, firing between my brain synapses, blowing throughout every crack and crevice of my soul!
I'm so glad Jesus earlier said to Peter, "Follow Me".
He says it to us in the very same way.
Follow Me.
