PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 26:69-75
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken…” (Matthew 26:74)
Boastful Peter – who claimed he would never deny Jesus – curses himself as a liar.
Ouch, can you imagine if God held him to his words, and actually cursed him for his lie?
Can you imagine if God actually took us at our promise to love and serve Jesus?
Peter remembers Jesus’s words and is broken with grief.
Jesus was not condemning Peter, but acknowledging his weakness and need for him.
He also promised to pray for Peter that he would live to see a new day (Luke 22:31-32).
Even his words to Judas were grace filled, “Friend, do what you came to do.” (Matthew 26:50)
To the very end, Jesus is gracious and offers forgiveness and hope for those who struggle.
I am not one to judge Peter… in fact Peter inspires me with hope.
If Jesus can use Peter’s weak faith to build his church (Matthew 16:16-18), he can use me.
Jesus knows my weakness, he does not reject me even though he knows I will reject him.
Many times I have professed my faith, and many times I have gone against my faith.
I am no longer boastful in my faith, painfully aware how weak my professions are.
I remember Jesus’ words, and though I weep for my weakness, I am hopeful in his grace.
PRAYER
Lord, you know me. you hear my boasting, and you know my stumbling. Yet I am still your friend. May my lapses bring me conviction with hope, confident that you will restore me again.
“you will disown me three times” I’ve had times in my past when I hid my faith. I’m ashamed I did – I did not defend or stand up to the ridicule I was hearing. I can understand Peter’s fear. Lord help me not to be weak anymore but always ready to bear witness ‘to the hope that I have in you’ – those words are a paraphrase of words Peter wrote in 1Peter 3:15. Failure leads to be stronger. Help me to remain strong in my faith but to bear witness in a way that honours and affirms Jesus and the Gospel.
Peter, the Rock.
If Peter can fail, so can I.
I need to be careful about my weakness and stay away from situations that make me stumble. And when I do stumble I need to confess it before the Lord and not hurt those around me by my actions. Words are easy but to stand up for Jesus alone, when the pressure is on, I need to stand upon solid ground and not be afraid of the gospel. It is only in His power I am able to stand.
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.