Word@Work Luke336 - Luke 22:54-58
Published: Fri, 04/15/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
FEAR, LIES AND BETRAYAL
Luke 22:54-58 Then seizing him [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. (NIV)
Peter, who had proudly boasted of his unfailing loyalty to Jesus, was now betraying Him. After three years of the Master's teaching, seeing many miracles and even having had a personal revelation of the true identity of his Lord, none of that seemed to matter any more. The sordid betrayal by Judas, and the clumsy arrest of Jesus had left the disciples without their leader and protector. Peter might have thought he could be the hero who would rescue the Lord (it seems that he was the only one willing to get close enough to the courthouse). But the possibility that he would be next to be arrested was very real; and fear had already gripped his heart.
The trigger for his astonishing lies, denial and effective betrayal of Jesus were the simple observations of a servant girl. Normally he would never have taken such a person seriously. But when she spoke the truth and identified him as one of the disciples, he showed that his loyalty was to himself, as he denied any relationship with Jesus at all.
While we may consider Peter's behaviour as despicable, have we never done the same? Fear can be a proper emotion which alerts us to physical danger and the need to take action before things get out of our control. But the devil can so easily stir us to fear through his lies, convincing us that matters are also getting out of God's control and therefore we must do something to protect ourselves because He won't. Under those circumstances, once we have swallowed Satan's deceit, we are capable of doing anything. Often we revert to old patterns of behaviour we thought had long gone. But in doing so, we betray the Lord, His love, His care and provision; and expose ourselves to the isolation of life without Him. Not a good place to be! So let us be alert to what is happening when we get frightened - we are starting to believe that God is not in control, and we effectively deny that He is Lord of everything. Today, take your fears to Him; confess your betrayal, repent and come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. If Peter did, you can too!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for the truth that You are in control of all things and that You will always have the last word. Thank You that I can trust You, but I am very sorry for the times when I doubt Your love, authority and provision. I am sorry for so easily accepting the devil's lies that You are not in control and therefore I have to protect myself ... and that I justify lies and all sorts of wrong behaviour. Please forgive me and strengthen me to trust You more. Give me the insight to understand the strategy of Satan in my mind and heart, and help me to face difficulties with the knowledge that You are the Lord and that You have the last word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Peter, who had proudly boasted of his unfailing loyalty to Jesus, was now betraying Him. After three years of the Master's teaching, seeing many miracles and even having had a personal revelation of the true identity of his Lord, none of that seemed to matter any more. The sordid betrayal by Judas, and the clumsy arrest of Jesus had left the disciples without their leader and protector. Peter might have thought he could be the hero who would rescue the Lord (it seems that he was the only one willing to get close enough to the courthouse). But the possibility that he would be next to be arrested was very real; and fear had already gripped his heart.
The trigger for his astonishing lies, denial and effective betrayal of Jesus were the simple observations of a servant girl. Normally he would never have taken such a person seriously. But when she spoke the truth and identified him as one of the disciples, he showed that his loyalty was to himself, as he denied any relationship with Jesus at all.
While we may consider Peter's behaviour as despicable, have we never done the same? Fear can be a proper emotion which alerts us to physical danger and the need to take action before things get out of our control. But the devil can so easily stir us to fear through his lies, convincing us that matters are also getting out of God's control and therefore we must do something to protect ourselves because He won't. Under those circumstances, once we have swallowed Satan's deceit, we are capable of doing anything. Often we revert to old patterns of behaviour we thought had long gone. But in doing so, we betray the Lord, His love, His care and provision; and expose ourselves to the isolation of life without Him. Not a good place to be! So let us be alert to what is happening when we get frightened - we are starting to believe that God is not in control, and we effectively deny that He is Lord of everything. Today, take your fears to Him; confess your betrayal, repent and come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. If Peter did, you can too!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for the truth that You are in control of all things and that You will always have the last word. Thank You that I can trust You, but I am very sorry for the times when I doubt Your love, authority and provision. I am sorry for so easily accepting the devil's lies that You are not in control and therefore I have to protect myself ... and that I justify lies and all sorts of wrong behaviour. Please forgive me and strengthen me to trust You more. Give me the insight to understand the strategy of Satan in my mind and heart, and help me to face difficulties with the knowledge that You are the Lord and that You have the last word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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