OUR DAILY BREAD : SPEAK UP

[cimi]

FRIDAY JULY 24


SPEAK UP

READ:
LUKE 22:54
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When I hear stories about young people who have been bullied, I notice there are always at least two levels of hurt. The first and most obvious comes from the mean-spirited nature of those actually doing the bullying. That's terrible on its own. But there's another, deeper hurt that may end up being even more damaging than the first: The silence
of everyone else.

It hurts the one being bullied because they're stunned that no one will help. That often makes bullies more brazen, leading them to intensify their meanness. Worse, it heightens the embarrassment, false shame, and loneliness of the victim. So it is imperative to speak up for others and speak out against the behavior (SEE PROV. 31:8A).

Jesus knows precisely what it feels like to be bullied and to be left to suffer completely alone. Without cause, He was arrested, beaten, and mocked (LUKE 22:63-65). MATTHEW 26:56 says that "all the disciples forsook Him and fled." Peter, one of His closest friends, even denied three times that he knew Him (LUKE 22:61). While others may not understand fully, Jesus does.

When we see others being hurt, we can ask Him for the courage to speak up. __Randy Kilgore

**Make us brave, Lord, for those who need our courage.
Help us to speak for others and show them that
You know their hurt and loneliness.
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The voice of a courageous Christian is an echo of the voice of God.

***************************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 22:54-65**************************
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into
the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance.

55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the
courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire,
looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."

57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."

58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You
also are of them."

But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently
affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he
is a Galilean."

60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"
Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him,
"Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So
Peter went out and wept bitterly.

63 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.

64 And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face
and asked Him, saying, Prophecy! Who is the one who struck
You?" 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke
against Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Luke's inspired account of the life of Jesus
reflects Luke's profession as a physician. He alone is the only gospel
writer who records that while Jesus was praying on the night
before He was arrested "his sweat was like drops of blood falling to
the ground" (v. 44NIV). This unusual detail underscores the amazing
demonstration of love seen in Christ's suffering for us. Additionally,
only Luke records that Jesus healed the ear of Maichus, the servant
of the high priest who had been attacked by Peter (vv. 50-51). Both of
these details reflect the knowledge of a medical person.