August 15
Mark 14:26-31
Words are easy. It's easy to say, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." Can you imagine Peter's shock and horror when Jesus said to him, "you yourself will disown me three times." I'm sure that Peter knew in the back of his head that if Jesus said this was going to happen, then it was going to happen. But he was still quick to deny what Jesus was telling him. "Even if all fall away, I willl not." Like I said, words are easy. It's easy for us to say, "I would never do what Peter did. I would never deny that I knew Jesus like that." The hard part is putting our words into actions. Or maybe the hard part is realizing our sin. Just because we have never said, "I don't know Jesus" out loud to someone, doesn't mean that we haven't denied Him. Every time I yell at a slow driver on the highway it looks like I'm saying, "I don't know Jesus." Every time I talk about someone behind their back, it sounds like I'm saying, "I don't know Jesus." Every time I am rude, impatient, unloving, or judgmental my actions are screaming, "I don't know Jesus!" Words are easy, but what are your actions saying?
Principle: It is easy to pledge loyalty until actual persecution comes.
Application:
1. Where am I so busy objecting to the hard part of Jesus' words that I am missing His encouragement?
2. When will I be silent long enough to hear what the Lord is really saying?
3. Am I assured of my own strength - certain that "I would never do that"?
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What I like about this passage is that Jesus KNOWS that Peter will fail him, and yet Jesus has plans for Peter later. Even when God knows we are going to sin, He doesn't give up on us. He arranges for a "meeting" later where we can be restored and redeployed into His service. Thank you, Lord, for never giving up on me.
ReplyDeleteQuestion#2..."When will I be silent long enough to hear what the Lord is really saying?" This calls to my mind the chorus taken from Psalm 46:10(NIV)"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I pray for the wisdom to be silent and know God's instructions before my words and actions reflect other than Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAs Peter did, I too have failed Jesus many times. The only way to over come this is to stay in His word, pray,listen to God and obey Him. And those times you do fail ask for forgivenss. This is not easy, this Bible study being daily has helped this summer. Thanks for getting this put together Sarah.
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