Page 20 - Living Light Spring 2024

Wednesday March 20 - Peter’s weakness
He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So,
could you not watch with me one hour?” Matthew 26:40
Shortly before arriving in Gethsemane Jesus warned Peter three times that he would deny even knowing him. He addressed him by his former name: “Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So, when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).
Peter’s story is full of twists and turns. From first being called to follow Jesus, witnessing extraordinary signs and wonders, wisdom and teaching, through to his eventual leadership of the early Church, we read of flashes of divine revelation on one hand and, on the other, total failure to recognise where the devil was at work. Knowing all this Jesus nonetheless affirmed him: “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Peter all too frequently failed to live up to these standards of spiritual strength and stature.
The transformation of Peter – from being unable to stay awake to comfort Jesus, running away and then swearing he was not involved, to the Apostle who preached at Pentecost, fearlessly led his fellow believers and finally refused a crucifixion like Jesus, but died upside down on his cross – is awesome. Along the line the Holy Spirit changed him. He is able to do the same for us!
Faithful God, when I let you down please pick me up again! Amen.
Thursday March 21 - “Watch and pray”
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed
is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Peter, James and John desperately wanted to ‘watch and pray’ but tiredness overwhelmed them. Everyone has given into something we know to be wrong. Our ‘willing spirits’, so easily distracted from prayer, worship or serving others, are pulled away to satisfy ‘the flesh’ – our natural, self-indulgent nature with its potential for moral and physical failure.
Perhaps you struggle with particular temptations that fight against your heart’s desire to follow Jesus. Don’t despair. Jesus said, “watch and pray”. Watch out for where we are weak and choose to pray for help. And keep doing it. Romans 8:1-4 declares that as we surrender our lives to the Father, trusting in the salvation Jesus won for us on the cross, we can believe that the life-giving Holy Spirit will set us free from the power of sin. Hebrews 4:15-16 says that Jesus ‘understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.’
This is no quick fix, for growing in our relationship with God is a lifelong journey with much stumbling along the way. But meeting with him day by day – in the presence of his loving mercy, confessing our need, trusting and thanking him – makes our willing spirit grow ever stronger.
Jesus, I thank you that although I repeatedly come in weakness you always accept me. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY