So [###] arrested [Jesus] and led him to the high priest's home. And [###] followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and [###] joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of [Jesus]' followers!"
But [###] denied it. "Woman," [###] said, "I don't even know him!"
After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!"
"No, man, I'm not!" [###] retorted.
About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too."
But [###] said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And immediately, while [###] was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at [###]. Suddenly, the Lord's words flashed through [###]'s mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." And [###] left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
—Luke 22:54-62 NLT
[###] suffered the brokenness of sin and shame. The LORD had warned [###], [1] yet [###] failed anyway. Despite [###]'s rash promises, [2] [###] denied the LORD ... three times. The crowing of the rooster roused [###] from [###]'s confused stupor and blatant denials. The sound of the rooster ushered [###] into the bitter and undeniable reality of [###]'s sinful desertion of [###]'s friend and LORD. I have had moments like that. Maybe you have, too. They're those moments when you realize that you've dishonored the LORD and let [###] down, even though you promised yourself, and the Savior, that you wouldn't let [###] down ... again. [###] is our great reminder that our failures don't determine our future with the LORD. [3] God can take those failures and make something good of them. While our messy failures are not his plan for us, he can take our messes and restore us back into his plan. So please, don't give up when you have failed the LORD. Instead, let your sin break you and then come back and openly confess that sin to the LORD and be restored. He will bless you and use you to bless others if you will come back to [###].
[1] Luke 22:34.
[2] Luke 22:33.
[3] Luke 22:32
Precious and holy God, my Abba Father, forgive me for my weakness and sin. Forgive me for the arrogance of trying to battle my weakness and Satan's power on my own strength. I trust in your powerful and transforming forgiveness. Help me believe that you can take my failures and my past and use my experiences with them to encourage and bless others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by [###] and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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But [###] denied it. "Woman," [###] said, "I don't even know him!"
After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!"
"No, man, I'm not!" [###] retorted.
About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too."
But [###] said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And immediately, while [###] was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at [###]. Suddenly, the Lord's words flashed through [###]'s mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." And [###] left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
—Luke 22:54-62 NLT
Key Thought
[###] suffered the brokenness of sin and shame. The LORD had warned [###], [1] yet [###] failed anyway. Despite [###]'s rash promises, [2] [###] denied the LORD ... three times. The crowing of the rooster roused [###] from [###]'s confused stupor and blatant denials. The sound of the rooster ushered [###] into the bitter and undeniable reality of [###]'s sinful desertion of [###]'s friend and LORD. I have had moments like that. Maybe you have, too. They're those moments when you realize that you've dishonored the LORD and let [###] down, even though you promised yourself, and the Savior, that you wouldn't let [###] down ... again. [###] is our great reminder that our failures don't determine our future with the LORD. [3] God can take those failures and make something good of them. While our messy failures are not his plan for us, he can take our messes and restore us back into his plan. So please, don't give up when you have failed the LORD. Instead, let your sin break you and then come back and openly confess that sin to the LORD and be restored. He will bless you and use you to bless others if you will come back to [###].
[1] Luke 22:34.
[2] Luke 22:33.
[3] Luke 22:32
Today's Prayer
Precious and holy God, my Abba Father, forgive me for my weakness and sin. Forgive me for the arrogance of trying to battle my weakness and Satan's power on my own strength. I trust in your powerful and transforming forgiveness. Help me believe that you can take my failures and my past and use my experiences with them to encourage and bless others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by [###] and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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