Page 65 - Living Light Spring 2024

Friday May 17 - Promising to follow
But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Luke 22:33
I find such encouragement in Peter’s example. He promised his undying commitment to Jesus – he said he’d follow Jesus not only into prison but then said that he’d die for him – and yet very soon he’ll be telling a servant girl that he didn’t know this man with whom he’d travelled for years. I can relate! I think of some of my little, and larger, failures, such as not following through on my word, or letting someone down.
When we commit to something we might fully believe that nothing will keep us from making good on our promises. And many times we succeed! After all, God gives us strength and perseverance and works with us. But when we fail, we can ask God to help us make things right. He may take us ‘out of the game’ for a season, helping us to rest, recover and make reparations. Or he might – through the prayers of Jesus, just as he prayed for Peter – restore us. He might equip us to strengthen our friends after we have learned from our humbling failure.
I invite you to ponder with God about when you’ve made a promise that you couldn’t keep, and what happened. Then consider different episodes in which God helped you to follow through and to keep your word. How might God be leading you now to make a commitment – or not?
Father God, please help me to keep my word – that my ‘yes’ would be a ‘yes’ and my ‘no’ would be a ‘no’ (Matthew 5:37). Amen.
Saturday May 18 - Repent and return
“I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:34
“You will deny me.” I wonder how Peter felt when Jesus delivered that line? I’m guessing his heart would have pounded furiously and his clothes were dripping with sweat. He wanted to stay true to Jesus – but in the end he couldn’t.
We might wonder why on the one hand Jesus reinstated Peter, while on the other he excluded Judas. Perhaps the reason lies in Peter having cracked under pressure, while Judas had planned his betrayal in advance. Judas sought to benefit from handing Jesus over to the authorities, whereas Peter sought to distance himself from Jesus during a moment of great weakness. Jesus sees through to the heart, to our motivations. He knew that Peter really wanted to serve God, whereas Judas put his own agenda before that of the kingdom of God.
When we’ve succumbed to temptation or failed to act in ways that we know God calls us to, we can repent and return to Jesus. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has been praying for us, and that he sends the Holy Spirit to strengthen us. We are fragile human beings, who can bend under pressure or grumble when we’re tired or hungry. But God doesn’t give up on us. In fact, he uses us to spread his gospel of good news! Rejoice in the promises of Jesus, and in knowing that he prays for you!
Loving Lord, thank you for forgiving me. Strengthen my love for you, that I might share it with others. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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