WHAT THE TRUTH WILL DO

No man was more aware of who Jesus was, than possibly the Apostle Peter.
When others began to leave Jesus, Peter knew there was no one else they
could go to. John records Peter's words in John 6:68, "... Lord, to whom
shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." Peter knew that Jesus
spoke the truth and that no one else could provide that truth.

At the same time, Peter's life is an example of one who was changed by that
truth. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Jesus, yet Peter refused to
believe it. When he did deny Jesus and remembered Jesus' words, the truth
caused him to weep bitterly (Matt. 26:75). Jesus had told his disciples that
the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called, "the Spirit of Truth..." (John 16:13),
would guide them and tell them what they would say. This truth would again
change Peter. The next time he would stand in front of a crowd he would not
deny his Lord. On Pentecost he stood and proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Christ
(Acts 2:14-41). His new found courage, brought about by the truth and
guidance of the Spirit, was a source of marvel to those who opposed his
teaching (Acts 4:13).

But the truth never stops leading and helping us to change. We should never
get so caught up in our ways that we neglect the truth. Again, in the life of
Peter, we have a situation where the truth caused him to change. Even when he
is looked upon as a leader of these disciples, he is rebuked by Paul when
reminded of the truth. Paul tells of this account in Galatians 2:11-14. Peter
had been eating with the gentiles before some of his Jewish brethren came to
visit. But when they came, he stopped eating with the gentiles. Paul
mentioned this hypocrisy, telling Peter and the others that "... they walked
not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel ...".
Truth would cause them to change and re-evaluate their actions.

God's truth is designed to uncover our weaknesses, strengthen us, guide us,
encourage us and change us. Peter was a faithful child of God and servant of
Jesus Christ. His life shows the power of the truth and the ability of one to
change. May it ever be so in our lives. The Truth: it can change you! [JW]