| A New Start for the Distant |
A New Start for the Distant
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new.
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
It all started to fall apart for Peter in the upper room. Jesus warned the
disciples that one of them would actually betray Him and the others
would desert Him.
Peter couldn't believe that Jesus would make such a statement. He
boldly protested, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will
never be made to stumble" (Matthew 26:33). Then Jesus told Peter that
not only would he deny Him, but he would deny Him three times. Peter
thought that was absolutely impossible. But Jesus knew Peter better
than Peter knew himself.
It wasn't too much later that Peter fell asleep in the Garden of
Gethsemane when he should have been praying with Jesus. Then after
Jesus' arrest, he followed at a distance and denied the Lord not once,
not twice, but three times.
Immediately after that third denial, the eyes of Peter and the eyes of
Jesus met. Peter was devastated, and he went out and wept bitterly
(see Luke 22). Imagine how hard it must have been. Then, a few days
later, he heard that wonderful message that the Lord had risen. Not only
that, but Jesus said to the women at the tomb, "But go, tell His disciples
—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will
see Him, as He said to you" (Mark 16:7). Tell the disciples—and Peter.
. . . Jesus singled him out. Why? He knew Peter needed
encouragement.
Maybe you need encouragement today. Maybe you have gone astray.
Maybe you have drifted. If you would like to come back to Christ again,
you can. In spite of your failures, the risen Lord can give you a new start
today.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new.
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
It all started to fall apart for Peter in the upper room. Jesus warned the
disciples that one of them would actually betray Him and the others
would desert Him.
Peter couldn't believe that Jesus would make such a statement. He
boldly protested, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will
never be made to stumble" (Matthew 26:33). Then Jesus told Peter that
not only would he deny Him, but he would deny Him three times. Peter
thought that was absolutely impossible. But Jesus knew Peter better
than Peter knew himself.
It wasn't too much later that Peter fell asleep in the Garden of
Gethsemane when he should have been praying with Jesus. Then after
Jesus' arrest, he followed at a distance and denied the Lord not once,
not twice, but three times.
Immediately after that third denial, the eyes of Peter and the eyes of
Jesus met. Peter was devastated, and he went out and wept bitterly
(see Luke 22). Imagine how hard it must have been. Then, a few days
later, he heard that wonderful message that the Lord had risen. Not only
that, but Jesus said to the women at the tomb, "But go, tell His disciples
—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will
see Him, as He said to you" (Mark 16:7). Tell the disciples—and Peter.
. . . Jesus singled him out. Why? He knew Peter needed
encouragement.
Maybe you need encouragement today. Maybe you have gone astray.
Maybe you have drifted. If you would like to come back to Christ again,
you can. In spite of your failures, the risen Lord can give you a new start
today.
| C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside , CA 92514 |