1Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 2 Peter 1:1-2

Simon Peter introduces himself as “a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” in his second letter. Peter uses Simon – his original name – to signify his remembrance of his betrayal of Jesus when he denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion. Peter – the name he was given by Jesus – signifies how he changed and devoted himself fully to Jesus. He calls himself Simon Peter not only to remind of his betrayal but also to signify how he changed. He felt intensely the pain of his betrayal throughout his life, never forgetting and always reminding himself to be humble. Even when he was crucified as a martyr, Peter requested to be crucified upside down in deference to Jesus. 

As “bond-servant,” Peter completely devoted himself to being an instrument of Jesus to carry out His purpose. Jesus was his only master. Jesus had called him directly to serve. In his mind, there was nothing else he should do: serving Jesus’ will was his complete purpose. Peter never became arrogant; yet, he had supreme confidence because of his faith in God. Though the world and many powerful people sought his life, Peter was never deterred from his focus. If we were to be just as devoted as Peter was for just one time a day, it would have an amazing effect on our lives of faith. 

Though it would be easy to become arrogant, Peter remained humble by constantly reminding himself of his betrayal every time he referred to himself as Simon Peter. Humility was very important to Peter as he discusses in 1 Peter 5. To be humble is to always remember our weak points as Simon Peter did. While it may be easy for us to ignore or forget them and only focus on our strengths, this is a path to failure. We must always evaluate our sins. The one who does not is sure to stumble. 

In a parable we know well, Jesus teaches us not to look at the splinter in others’ eyes before seeing the log in our own. Look at yourself first. Repent and fix it; then help your neighbor. When we see mistakes in others, do not try to fix them without looking within first. Only after we have recognized and repented our own can we help others repent their sins. If we do not do so, we will not have the vision or the ability to instruct others correctly. This is the method Jesus taught to us. Do not judge others first only to be judged later by God. This is being humble. We can only help others repent when we have first acknowledged our sins and have repented ourselves. Simon Peter never forgets this message and is an example for us to follow.

What does God want from us? While God likes for us to carry out righteous works of love, helping others in their salvation while we live on this earth, God is more pleased with us when we review our sins and weaknesses, genuinely, deeply repent them, and live to make up for those weaknesses just as Simon Peter did. It is not easy to live this way continuously as Simon Peter did. There was a young man who recently came out of prison. When he first came out, he had a beautiful aura of humility and repentance in all his actions. But later I found he had changed. This is why it is important for us to do as Simon Peter did: to always reflect and remind ourselves of our mistakes, so that we never forget them, can guard against them, and live forgiven and transformed like Simon Peter.

David was a clean and faithful servant whom God made king. Though he faltered with Uriah and was punished, David repented and became even more dear to God. So dear, it was from David’s and Abraham’s lineage that Jesus came. Why? David diligently looked back on his past and present and acknowledged his sins and weaknesses. He felt genuine repentance and humbled himself before the Lord. When we repent and humble ourselves, God forgives us and loves us more dearly.

Do not fail to look inside yourselves before seeking to point out faults in others. Review your past over and over again for your faults and betrayals of faith. Repent them and do not forget them. Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will bless you. This is what Simon Peter did to become a valuable servant of God. Always on Simon Peter’s mind was his prior failure, which kept him humble, and his transformation, which kept him always striving to serve Jesus completely as a bond-servant and apostle.

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