Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 40:9-12
Ps 40:9-12
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. 11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Matt 26:69-75
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
This Peter is the same man that Jesus commended for confessing him as the Son of God, the promised Christ. It was Peter that Jesus said he would give the keys to the kingdom. Peter was the apostle that has his sermon recorded on the day the church was established. Yes, Peter was a true servant of the Lord, an apostle, and a devoted follower. He belonged to the “inner circle” of Jesus, being invited to go with him, along with only two other apostles, on multiple occasions.
But Peter rebuked Jesus on one occasion. Peter denied the Lord. When he began to walk on the water toward Jesus, he began to be afraid and doubting, he began to sink. Peter had his weak moments but was a man of courage and faith. We as Peter and the Psalmist may be strong but still have our weak moments.
Lord God, giver of life and creator of all things, I give you thanks for my life, my family and for so many fellow Christians. As I think of your majesty and your glory, it is beyond my mind to grasp just how awesome you are. Thank your for loving me, even though I am only a wee part of your creation. Use me to serve others and to honor your name and your church. There are many in various parts of the world that don’t have the freedoms I enjoy, and I ask your protection that their faith will be strong. Give them your peace. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
