You’ve Been Warned
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me strength through Your Word today.
Read Mark 14:27–31
[27] “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ [28] But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” [29] Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” [30] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today-yes, tonight-before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” [31] But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think about what you might be willing to do for Jesus. What do you do for him each day?“Pride comes before a fall.” Peter is not denying that he and his fellow disciples will be under great pressure and testing at the time of Jesus’ suffering. Rather, he is insisting that he can resist the temptations in his own strength and way. He refuses to take Jesus’ warning to heart, stating emphatically that he is ready to die for Jesus and he will never deny him. Peter heard the Lord’s warning; he was also to discover the Lord’s amazing grace after the resurrection. As John 21:15–17 tells us, three times Jesus would ask him: “Do you love me?” and three times Peter would confess his love for the Lord, before being commissioned to lead his fellow disciples out into the world with the Gospel. Peter is not the only person who needed such warnings and forgiveness—we do. For “no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Apply
What spiritual warfare do we need to engage in, to win our personal spiritual battles?
Closing prayer
Merciful God, give me the strength to overcome any spiritual challenge I may face today.
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