Simon Peter ❤️❤️❤️

The Bible is full of the greatest people who ever lived and walked this earth. The Old Testament is full of the warriors, movers, shakers and builders. The New Testament is full of the peace makers, movers, shakers and teachers. There are many I can’t wait to meet and talk to, after Jesus, family and pets of course; but the first person I hope to meet is Simon Peter.

He is one of my very favorite characters in the Bible and can be found in the New Testament. He is also known as: Peter, The Apostle Peter, Saint Peter, and One of Jesus’ 12 Disciples. Jesus upon meeting Simon called him Cephas; meaning in Aramaic-Kepa “Rock” hence from the Greek translation of Kepa comes Peter.

When we first meet Simon, he is a Jewish fisherman in Bethsaida (once a fishing village east of the Jordan on the Sea of Galilee). Why do I love Simon Peter? He is highly mentioned in all four books of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John so we get to know him; but the true reason is, he is so relatable. He loved Jesus with a passion he could barely contain yet every time he opened his mouth he’d bungle. His love was so strong he’d rush into promises and situations without thinking them through. He’s the one who jumped out of the mighty fishing vessel into the churning sea to walk on the water with Jesus. You know what, he was doing it until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves. But I will save that lesson for another devotion.

Simon was so human there isn’t one of us who can’t relate and I believe that is why he is so visible within the pages of history and time. We as devoted believers love with a passion we can’t describe. Does this make us now perfect, better than, above reproach, holier than thou? No, it does make us watched, judged, viewed, responsible and accountable. You see, Jesus loved Simon Peter so very much but I imagine he rolled his eyes a time or two and was inclined to shake his head in disbelief. But, our Lord knew and saw something more then the bumbles and that was Simons true heart and that heart had more love then it could hold.

Simon started his walk with Jesus as a fisherman and as a result of that undying love; learned, grew and became one of the first leaders of the early churches. He founded the church of Antioch and appears to be the author of the first and second books of Peter. All beginning from an enthusiastic fisherman who fell in love with our Lord.

Do you love so much that it’s hard to contain? Then don’t…Simon is an example for us all. We don’t have to know it all, we don’t have to be perfect, we just have to love and share what we know to be true…Jesus will do the rest! You are loved…go out and love. Be blessed today and Thank you for joining me today.🥰