Day 25-Back to Peter

My Prayer: Psalm 54:4 (New International Version)
4 Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.

The Reading: Luke 21-22
Luke 22:28-34 (New International Version)
28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

My Thoughts: I think I may have posted this before when I talked about Jesus praying for us. Peter really is my favorite. Don't you know Jesus just had to shake his head sometimes in disbelief at Peter. Peter was going to do great things...but he wasn't there yet. Then later on, verse 61, after Peter has, yes, actually denied knowing Jesus 3 times, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered..." Oh, man. Can you imagine? Peter blusters and promises (and cuts off some dude's ear and Jesus has to fix it) and then he messes up in a big way...and then he has to meet Jesus' eye. Oh, man. That's so much worse than getting a phone call at work to talk about how I've messed up in a big way. I cringe, and fret, and stay up at night worrying about it. Can you imagine the upset Peter faced? And Jesus knew it would happen and loved Peter anyway, made plans for his rewards in advance. Peter got a second (or with Peter, third, fourth, fifth) chance. And he did the right thing, the thing that Jesus prayed for. Satan sifted Peter and he failed, but he didn't give up. He did turn back, and he went on to impact the world. Thank you, God, for giving me a second (third, fourth) chance.