Tuesday, July 9, 2024
God’s Never-Changing Love
And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:62 NLT)
While Peter warmed himself by the enemy’s fire, there was some time between his denials of Jesus. First, a servant recognized him and said, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean” (Matthew 26:69 NLT).
But Peter essentially told her, “No, you’ve got the wrong guy. It isn’t me.”
Later, another servant recognized him as someone who had been with Jesus. But the Bible tells us, “Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath” (verse 72 NLT).
Lastly, the Bible says, “A little later” (verse 73 NLT), some people recognized Peter’s Galilean accent and assumed that he was one of Jesus’ disciples. And again, Peter denied it, saying, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” Then the Bible tells us that “immediately the rooster crowd” (verse 74 NLT).
That brings us to a question: Why didn’t Peter just leave?
Think about the last time you faced temptation. Did you leave? When that scene came on the screen in the movie theater, did you get up and walk out?
Or, when you were with your friends and one of them started to make fun of the Christian faith and even mock God, did you speak up?
The last time you were tempted to do the wrong thing, did you walk away? Maybe you didn’t. Here’s what happens: You get worn down. That is where Peter was. He was worn down, weak, and vulnerable. He was trapped in the miserable web of compromise.
Luke’s Gospel gives us this additional detail: “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly” (22:61–62 NLT).
Imagine the scene. Peter swore he never knew Jesus. A rooster crowed. Peter turned. And Jesus looked at him. Jesus said this would happen. But Jesus also said, “So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32 NLT).
Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. At the tomb, an angel relayed a message for the disciples: “Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died” (Mark 16:7 NLT).
“Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter.” Why single out Peter? Because he needed some encouragement. He thought there was no hope for him, no future for him. But Jesus wanted Peter to know that He remembered him and that He had risen just as He said He would.
Our love is fickle. It runs hot and cold. But God’s love for us never changes. It is always there. You need to know that Jesus loves you, even if you have fallen like Peter did.
Have you messed up? Here’s how you can get right with God: Return to Him and repent of your sin. And then start living as He wants you to live.
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