Devotion: Peter
Please take the time to read Matthew 16:13-26
I’ve had an opportunity recently to reimagine what I want to do when I grow up. When I tell people I’m on this journey, their immediate question is, “what are you looking for?” Good question.
I’ve been struggling with a short answer, beyond naming a few areas that I have experience and interest. Until last week. I went to our youth group meeting where Lutheran Center Pastor, Liz Kocher shared with the students the notion of vocation. I thought to myself, “That’s it! That’s what I’m looking for.”
Prior to the last three years, I truly felt I was living my vocation–working with students, startups and nonprofits. These last few years in software development felt a little off.
Vocation, in the truest definition, means a calling. In our faith, it’s not only what God calls us to do but also what he calls us to be.
In today’s lesson, Jesus tells Peter, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…” In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Greg tells us that Peter provides a good example for our own faith journey. Peter struggles with the tension between human understanding and divine purpose. Yet, after denying Jesus three times, he leans into his destiny. Even in Peter’s stumbles of faith, Jesus holds him accountable, showing true compassion. And Peter went on to build the church.
This passage follows with Jesus telling the disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This is our call to action.
Our vocation is not merely a profession or a role in life but a calling to participate in God’s work. We should each take up our own cross and live out or call of sacrifice to do the work God intends us to do.
May we be like Peter and embrace our vocation. Let us participate with compassion to do the work God intends us to do to bring hope and restoration to our broken world.
Dear God, Help me to lean into what you’re calling me to do, even if it’s difficult. Especially, guide me in showing compassion for people who don’t have the same views as me so I may seek to understand, rather than judge. Amen.
Written by Randy Hawthorne
Having a rivaled human network, Randy makes it his personal mission to connect those humans to their next big thing. Randy has decades of experience in the nonprofit industry, having served as a professional and volunteer in a variety of organizations. He enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, occasionally makes his way to a theater stage, geeks out on local history and goes on dining adventures.
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