WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT LIKE PETER

When You Think You Are Not Like PETER,
You Are More Like HIM Then You Think!



"The church is full of Hypocrites" people often say,"That's  why I don't
attend it"
        I never argue with them -- for that would never mend it.
I simply point out to them the error that is so true
        For, my church is not so full of them that "we haven't room for you!"

You see,we are quite like Peter no matter what we say
        For he thought that he was different, much, in every way.
When Jesus took the basin to do such a lowly feat
        Peter would not, like the others, let Jesus wash his feet.

While he agreed with Jesus that some disciple might betray Him
        Peter would be faithful, He would always be there to obey Him.
When Jesus told him that Satan had asked for a special gift
        That he might have Peter, that he might Peter's purpose sift.

But Jesus had prayed for  him, that his faith would never fail!
        How Peter should have shuddered and his face grown pale
Except he felt that he was better, better than all of the rest.
        He knew that he was able, able to stand the test

Then Jesus asked the disciples how things had always gone?
        When they went out from him, had they suffered wrong?
Now he told them plainly as He gave to them His word,
        "Sell what you have right now and buy yourself a sword."

The disciples said they had brought with them  (as if He never knew)
        The swords for His protection among them numbered two.
Now Peter was one of the trusted and he had one of them
        So when, in the garden, he awoke and saw all of the men

He wielded his sword for Jesus, "How thankful Christ will be!
        How all will know that I'm different!  They will plainly see."
How painful were the Savior's words as they struck Peter to his heart!
        "Put up your sword", said Jesus and instead of taking his part

He bent over the one that Peter had wounded and replaced his ear.
        After that poor Peter never followed closely his Savior dear
Things were not as he imagined nor would they ever be
        And thus began the rift between our Lord and he.

We are so much like Peter who felt that he would do better
        That he could keep the spirit of the law just as well as its letter!
When Peter denied Him before the cock did crow
        Then and only then did Peter really know

For he went out a weeping, he could hardly speak
        For now he was just like others, really very weak
You see, Judas was a hypocrite and that is plain to see!
        Yet Peter was no hypocrite but most like you and me

His heart was for Jesus and he really thought he knew it.
        To ever hurt the Savior, how he would eschew it!
But when God does not do as we suppose and we're so sure we're right
        While others see our failures only God can see our fight.

They may think we're hypocrites and they may judge us so
        But we have learned, like Peter (now we really know)
That when we think that we are the strongest and we will never fail,
        Be sure a storm will suddenly arise that rips up every sail,

Then let us be like Peter when next he saw his Savior
        How he tried to change his own compulsive behavior.
And when Jesus asked him to declare just how much he loved Him
        Peter never even thought that he could be above them

But took from Jesus the very thing (how he needed now to know it).
        That Jesus was forgiving him and He would surely show it.
Now there was severe disappointment, as there always must be
        When what we expect to happen doesn't  fit our reality

But the feeling of disappointment, the feeling of awful loss
        Was felt by Peter then and not by the Christ of the Cross.
For He knows all about us, what we can and cannot do,
        That we are prone to failure, to Him is nothing new.

And He who loved and chose us to be His special friend
        Will always walk beside us to the very end.
And if we should ever fail Him (as we often do)
        Remember every morning HIS MERCYS ARE EVER NEW!

ghvs  4/5/96