John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Have you ever been driving down the road, doing a good deed for someone or just simply enjoying the day, only to have a rock from out of nowhere fly up and hit your windshield? Your excitement, joy, peace and good Samaritan deed quickly turns into anger, frustration and cost. I'm not talking about a huge windshield that just falls to pieces or even a crack that runs the length of your windshield. I'm talking about those small chips or scratches that just drive you crazy.
Every day after you climb into your vehicle, turn the ignition, get the radio set like you like it and then look up... only to see that crack or chip. Immediately, you return to that day, hour and minute that it happened and some days your anger or frustration begins to build again just as it did on that day. (sometimes this can go on for years, especially if your as cheap as me... haha)
Look at the scripture this morning... Peter first of all thought he was doing a good deed for his Savior. He was defending Jesus by cutting a man's ear off and then gets instructed by Jesus to stop. Jesus said His death on the cross must happen because it is the will of God. But imagine Peter... "I was minding my own business, I was just driving down the road thinking I was doing right and BOOM! A rock, or better yet, THE ROCK (Jesus) stopped me in my tracks".
Many a preacher has preached about Peter. We have preached about his boldness and then how he denied Christ. We have preached about the faith that he lacked to walk on water. I imagine Peter reliving these moments often. May I say, I relate to this very well. It's kinda like getting into a vehicle and looking at one small, tiny chip in a windshield that is full of clarity and beauty.
Remember this... Those rocks and chips are lessons. Stay further back... Watch out for road hazards... Watch for trucks hauling trash, rocks, etc... We can choose today to be angry at that little rock and chip every time we see it, or we can choose to accept what that rock did and the lesson it teaches us. Just the same, you can choose today to see what THE ROCK is doing in our lives and the lessons HE can teach us. Sometimes those chips and scratches can bring us down, if this happens remember that just means when you are down your are closer to your knees. Ask THE ROCK what it is He wants to teach you.
