Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Luke 22:31-33 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!”

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

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Reflect

I think that the scripture reading today is really interesting. We have something that we are faced with each day and possibly multiple times a day. Do we follow and identify ourselves with the Lord or do we turn our backs on him denying that we have a relationship with him?

We are all faced with this decision. We must decide from the beginning of our faith journey if we will follow the Lord. From there we must continually proclaim our faith and relationship with Him.

We may not be facing prison and death. We may not be in the crowd as Jesus is being taken away to face trial and be crucified. We do, however, with every life decision, with every interaction with the people God created, with every work or school decision, and much more, have the opportunity to put Christ first and to try our best to live in a way that is most pleasing to our Lord and Savior. Sometimes we do this well and sometimes we don’t.

What does this look like in your life? Are you identifying yourself with our Lord and Savior or do you sometimes deny Him? My prayer that as we grow in our faith, we learn to constantly choose the Lord!

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Pray

God, be with us today as we strive to live a life, and this day, in a way that is pleasing to you. God, we will be faced with many decisions today and some will cause us to follow you or our own interest and desire. Help us to choose you every time. Amen.

Go with God!