Bible Verse of The Day – 12-16-23

John 18:26-27 (NKJV) 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

I would not want to have been Peter when he heard that rooster crow.

I can’t even imagine what he must have felt in that moment.

Peter denied Jesus three times.

Three times he was asked if He was with Jesus. And each time, he denied knowing Him; the same disciple who told Jesus he would lay down his life for Him.

John 13:37 (NKJV) 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

In his heart, he really meant what he had said to Jesus. But when push came to shove, he didn’t have what it took to do what he said he would.

I believe Peter’s eyes were opened, allowing him to see himself when he was faced with such situations as this one.

Maybe some of us have made sincere statements, and then we failed to keep them. It’s human frailty.

Our intentions are good. But to keep them or follow through with them it is a whole other story.

It shows us all that we need the help of the Holy Spirit. He will give us the strength and discipline we need to stay true to our word and our convictions when we are faced with difficult circumstances.

John 20:22 (NKJV) 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Peter is an example for us, not so that we look down on him for his denial, but to learn and see that it can happen to any one of us. We can truly mean what we say, but our actions will show us what we are really made of.

The Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to overcome our own weaknesses and prevail in those circumstances when we would otherwise give in and deny the truth and all that we know to be right.

Amen.

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