'No Way!' — Mark 14:68
But Peter denied [having been with Jesus]. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
Key Thought
Peter denies the Lord, just as Jesus had warned him that he would, but this is only the first denial. On cue, the rooster crows as if God is trying to stir Peter's soul to a new-found fortitude or to remind him of his failure that has just begun to unfold. As the verses that follow show, [1] Peter does not awaken from his spiritual slumber until later. He continues down the path of denial and abandonment that was begun in the Garden of Gethsemane when he ran away as Jesus was arrested. [2] How many times have we been caught in the lure of sin or the spiral of spiritual weakness and not heeded the Lord's warning and not found his way of escape?
[2] Mark 14:50.
Today's Prayer
O God, forgive me for not heeding your warnings, for not summoning my courage, for not asking for your Spirit's power, and for not taking your way of escape. Strengthen me by your Spirit, I pray, and open my eyes to see your way to avoid my times of temptation and sin. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Ephesians 3:14-16
1 Peter 5:8-9
But Peter denied [having been with Jesus]. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
Key Thought
Peter denies the Lord, just as Jesus had warned him that he would, but this is only the first denial. On cue, the rooster crows as if God is trying to stir Peter's soul to a new-found fortitude or to remind him of his failure that has just begun to unfold. As the verses that follow show, [1] Peter does not awaken from his spiritual slumber until later. He continues down the path of denial and abandonment that was begun in the Garden of Gethsemane when he ran away as Jesus was arrested. [2] How many times have we been caught in the lure of sin or the spiral of spiritual weakness and not heeded the Lord's warning and not found his way of escape?
[1] Mark 14:69-72.[2] Mark 14:50.
Today's Prayer
O God, forgive me for not heeding your warnings, for not summoning my courage, for not asking for your Spirit's power, and for not taking your way of escape. Strengthen me by your Spirit, I pray, and open my eyes to see your way to avoid my times of temptation and sin. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Ephesians 3:14-16
1 Peter 5:8-9
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