OUR DAILY BREAD : UNFAILING MERCY

[cimi]

September 14
saturday


UNFAILING
MERCY

READ:
Luke 22:54-62
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As I strolled through Chicago's O'Hare airport, something caught my eye__a hat worn by some-one racing through the concourse. What caught my attention was the message it conveyed in just two words: "Deny Everything." I wondered what it meant. Don't ever admit to guilt? Or deny yourself the pleasures and luxuries of life? I scratched my head at the mystery of those two simple words, "Deny Everything."

One of Jesus' followers, Simon Peter, did some denying. In a critical moment, he denied three times that He even knew Jesus! (Luke 22:57, 58,60). His fear-filled act of denial caused him such guilt and heartache that, broken by his spritual failure, he could only go out and weep bitterly (v.62).

But Peter's denial of Christ, like our own moments of spiritual denial of Christ, could never diminish the compassion of God. The prophet Jeremiah worte, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22-23). We can take heart that even when we fail, our faithful God comes to us in mercy and compassion that never fails!
__Bill Crowder

````````````````````Thank You, Father, for Your new and never-``````````````````
``````````````````failing mercies. Forgive me for the times I deny````````````````
`````````````````````You and fail others, and teach me to run to``````````````````
```````````````````````You for Your overflowing compassion.`````````````````````
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Being imperfect emphasizes our dependence
on God's mercy.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 22:54-62*****************

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."

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 our and wept bitterly.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

At Christ's betrayal, Peter experienced a range of emotions. Initially,
he felt protective of Christ (John 18:10). Later, he feared arrest and
execution (Luke 22:54-60). Then, when the rooter crowed, he felt
guilt at having denied his Lord (vv.60-62). But the story does not end
there. After Jesus' resurrection, Peter felt the relief of being restored
(John 21:15-18); was empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach before
thousands (Acts 2); boldly witnessed in the face of persecution (Acts
4:1-22); and ultimately was martyred for his Lord (2 Peter 1:14).
God's power Gave him consistency and courage.
s

[Jamie808]

Thank you Cimi.

[cimi]

It's nice to be thanked and know that my efforts aren't in vain. So thank you!

[Jamie808]

You are welcome and they are not. Praise the Lord !