Luke 22:54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him." 57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
It is only by God's grace that any come to Him, and they only come because of the strength of His calling. But we must remember that it is also only by His grace that we remain with Him as well.
I often think that I would do this or that, but I have no strength of my own. The disciples missed the opportunity to pray for strength, as Jesus had told them to do, but they didn't have any idea what was right around the corner for them, or Jesus. Their sleepy flesh got the best of them and for Peter this had to be one of the most miserable memories of his life. I can't imagine the sorrow he must have felt as his was speaking his last denial.
What an amazing testament to the grace and long suffering of our Savior when He used Peter in such a pivotal way to help build His Church. May we always remember our utter dependency on Christ for our salvation and our sanctification. Lord keep us in Your will.
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