Luke 22:31-34 (KJV)
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Reflections:
Peter was so sure He was ready to serve the master. He would soon realize that he wasn’t so ready after all. He needed to undergo a conversion. When we first get saved it takes a while for us to figure out what really happened to us. This is a time of conversion, or changing from one state to another.
Salvation is instantaneous while conversion is a process. After a while (and a few trials and testing’s) as we fellowship with other believers, study our bibles, and pray we begin to grow SPIRITUAL roots as we receive nourishment from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The disciples were one up on us having already been schooled in the Old Testament all their lives. Perhaps this is why Peter, once he humbled down, could undergo a relatively quick conversion. He didn’t have to take a period of time to understand biblical truths – he’d been applying them all his life. Unlike us, he and the other disciples had no New Testament to read -- it wouldn’t be written for another 40 to 60 years.
Once the Holy Spirit began imparting “spiritual” wisdom to Peter he was now ready to do what Jesus asked of him; “strengthen thy brethren.” And that’s exactly what he did. He gave his entire life to the brethren, just like Jesus did. This same calling is on our lives also.
There is no higher calling in Christ than to give one’s life for another (Jn 15:13). It’s normal to only want for ourselves in the beginning, but there comes a point where it’s time to give. Our spiritual gifts, experiences, time, and love are all meant to be shared in order to “strengthen the brethren…”