Luke and the Lost
We are not perfect even though we strive to continually learn His Word and apply it to our walk each day. We, like Peter, declare we would never deny the Jesus! But, maybe we do it in other ways. When hurt by someone, do we tend to fall back on our sin nature, and gossip about the one who hurts us? Do we stand “a safe distance away” when faced with a debate between the worldview’s opinion versus God’s Word of Truth?
Do we turn our backs on someone who needs help because we don’t feel we have the gifts, talents or abilities to come to their aid? Would we rather plan a meeting, sit in that meeting, make plans to help, then send it to another committee for more study while the need gets greater? Do we turn our faces away from disgusting, dirty situations that are too overwhelming for us to bend down and find a way to help? There are many ways we deny Jesus, Our Lord. Every. Day. I understand Peter’s weeping after the Master turns and looks at him…immediately after the third crow of the rooster.
Luke 22, The Message
A Rooster Crowed
54-56 Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, “This man was with him!”
57 He denied it, “Woman, I don’t even know him.”
58 A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, “You’re one of them.”
But Peter denied it: “Man, I am not.”
59 About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: “He’s got to have been with him! He’s got ‘Galilean’ written all over him.”
60-62 Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.
Dear Heavenly Father, We take time this morning to look full into Your wonderful face and see what is in Your eyes as You look back at us. And I repent. Thank you for being so patient with us. Thank you for Your unconditional love that flows through us when we focus on You. Thank you for using us, warts, imperfections and all, to come closer and closer, forgetting about standing a “safe distance” away and plunging deeper into what You would have us be and then do. I will stop crying, get up and follow You…as Peter did.
Continue to be with us.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 