Tuesday, 11 April 2017

East Ridge Pres

John 13: 36-38 Simon Peter said to [Jesus], “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. Simon Peter overestimated his devotion to Jesus. He overestimated his obedience. His faith. His self-denial. His commitment. We do the same. We say we have faith. We say we love the Bible. We say we are disciples. Following Jesus. Then we leave Him in a moment. In a crisis, we act like we have no faith at all. In a moment of fear, we leave Jesus. Will we lay down our lives for Jesus? Or will we refuse to follow that far? Will we leave Jesus, our Lord, again today? Turn our back on him again. And for what? A trifle. The smallest thing. A fear. A pain. A comfort. A pleasure. Let us truthfully examine ourselves. Let us rightly assess our devotion and faith. We are not courageous disciples. We are checked by an unkind word or the loss of a few dollars. Luke 22:31-32 [Jesus’s words] “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” There is great comfort in these words. Jesus: we leave you every day. Satan has defeated us a thousand times. Jesus: pray for us. pray for me. I return to you today. Pray that my faith may not fail. By your grace give me devotion and courage. Help me to follow you in this world. I will strengthen my brothers and sisters who struggle like me.