Scripture: Luke 22:54-62 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Devotion: Continuing on through the stories of second chances in the Bible, we have Peter. Peter was a disciple and one of Jesus’ closest friends. And yet, when pressed by those around him to say that he was with Jesus after His arrest, he denied it. He denied that he ever knew Jesus. Not once, not twice, but three times.
Well, after Jesus’ arrest, he was crucified and resurrected. And after His resurrection, when He was back on the earth for forty days with His apostles, He spoke with Peter. John 21:15-17 says, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Not once, not twice, but three times. Jesus wouldn’t have had to go back to Peter. He wouldn’t have had to give him a chance to express his love for Jesus after denying him. But He did. For every denial, Peter was given a chance to proclaim His love for Jesus. And he was used by the Lord in mighty ways after this.
In some way or another, we can all relate to this. Whether it be through gossiping about someone, lying to others, living a life of sexual promiscuity, pridefulness, or envy, there has likely been a time in each of our lives where we have not reflected that we know Jesus and are walking in the Truth of His Word. But despite that, there is grace and opportunity after opportunity to live in such a way that honors the Lord. Just as He gave Peter the chance to proclaim His love for Him to cover every denial, we are given the same. With each day that we are given, we have another chance to proclaim His love and glorify Him. And praise the Lord that He never stops giving us those chances, even when we don’t get it right.
Reflect:
- Are there any areas of your life where you are not honoring God in your actions? Ask the Lord to show you if there is and then give it over to Him, asking Him for guidance. Praise Him that when you do not get it right, He still gives more opportunities to do so.