Dare to Be a Simon Peter

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Thursday, November 5, 2026

Today's Text: Matthew 16:13-19

Key Verse: Matthew 16:18 (KJV) — "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Today's threshing beings us to a most amazing figure of Christ's disciples, a fisherman-turned-apostle, by the name of Peter. Peter's journey captures the raw reality of bold, passionate faith mixed with human weakness, restoration, and ultimate martyrdom. He was a Galilean fisherman named Simon, working with his brother Andrew, when Jesus called him to leave his nets and become a fisher of men. When Jesus asked His disciples who men said He was, Peter boldly confessed, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then renamed him Peter, meaning rock, and declared His church would be built on that confession. While others hesitated, Peter spoke up. His story teaches us that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. Dare to be Peter, who confessed Christ boldly and became a rock in God's hands!

Apart from Peter's prompt response to the call of destiny, leaving his boats, and business and following the amaster, he also teaches us that bold faith will sometimes stumble. He was the one who walked on water and then began to sink. He was the one who promised he would never deny Jesus and then denied Him three times. He was the one who cut off the ear of the high priest's servant and then ran away in fear. His failures did not disqualify him. They revealed his humanity. Today, many hide their weakness and pretend to be perfect. Peter reminds us that real faith is not the absence of failure, but the willingness to return after failure. Never let one fall define your future. Dare to be Peter!

Peter also teaches us to embrace restoration when we feel we have failed. After the resurrection, Jesus did not scold him in public. He met him privately by the sea and asked him three times, Lovest thou me? For every denial, Jesus gave him a chance to affirm his love. He then recommissioned him, Feed my sheep. Restoration did not erase his past, it repurposed it. Never allow shame to keep you from your assignment. God's mercy can rebuild what your mistakes broke. Like Peter, we must let Jesus restore us fully. Keep returning, keep loving, keep serving. Dare to be Peter, who was restored and recommissioned!

This fisherman did not keep his restoration to himself. On the day of Pentecost, the same man who once denied Christ before a servant girl stood up and preached Christ before thousands. Three thousand souls were saved that day. His boldness became a blessing to the church. Though he had once been afraid, he became fearless in the hands of the Spirit. He understood that encountering Christ carries the responsibility of making Him known. You do not need a perfect past to proclaim a perfect Savior. Your family, congregation, workplace, and community are places where your testimony can bring hope. Do not allow fear to silence your witness when others need courage. Dare to be Peter, whose restoration became a message of power to others! Share your testimony, stand boldly, and point others to Christ. Dare to be Peter, whose voice shook Jerusalem!

Peter's story reminds us that true greatness is measured by faithfulness, not fame. Tradition tells us he was crucified upside down in Rome because he felt unworthy to die like his Master. He lived to reveal Christ, not himself. His legacy was built through confession, courage, restoration, and sacrifice. He did not seek to become the center of attention; he pointed people to Jesus, the Christ. One bold moment is great, but a lifetime of faithful service builds a lasting testimony. Never underestimate the impact of a life that keeps getting up. May we be remembered not merely for what we accumulated, but for the Christ we confessed; not merely for how we started, but for how faithfully we finished. Dare to be Peter, whose life of bold faith still speaks today! May our lives likewise be remembered for our devotion to God and our impact on others. Dare to be Peter, whose faithfulness still speaks!

Action Steps: Spend time in prayer and worship today. Identify an area where you have failed or denied Christ, and receive His restoration. Ask for boldness to confess Christ, then share your testimony with someone who needs courage. Never consider yourself too broken, too weak, or too far gone to be used by God. Confess boldly, return quickly, and serve faithfully!

Quote for the Day: "A life that knows how to find his way to Jesus despite a fall can become a rock in His hands; failure is not the end when Christ's restorative purpose is not despised." — Simon Olatunji (#quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for Peter's exemplary life of bold faith, honest weakness, and full restoration. Help me confess Christ boldly, return quickly after failure, and serve You faithfully to the end. Deliver me from fear, shame, and denial. Let my life reveal Jesus and inspire others to trust You. May my devotion leave a lasting legacy for Your glory. In Jesus' most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study, please read: Matthew 16:13-19; Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 14:28-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 21:15-19; Acts 2:14-41; 1 Peter 5:10.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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