The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “THROUGH GOD’S POWER” for Tuesday, 9 August 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “THROUGH GOD’S POWER” for Tuesday, 9 August 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 26:69 Kefa was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him. “You too were with Yeshua from the Galil,” she said. 70 But he denied it in front of everyone — “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 He went out onto the porch, and another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Yeshua of Natzeret.” 72 Again he denied it, swearing, “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, the bystanders approached Kefa and said, “You must be one of them — your accent gives you away.” 74 This time he began to invoke a curse on himself as he swore, “I do not know the man!” — and immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times”; and he went outside and cried bitterly.
-------

Jesus said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”[Matthew 16:18 (NIV)]
As we see in the verse quoted above, Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” But we also see throughout scripture that Peter had several weaknesses. He often spoke before he thought through a situation. He was impulsive, abrupt in his actions, and discourteous to those around him. Peter was the disciple who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant as Jesus was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Peter said he would die before disowning Jesus. But, as Jesus predicted, Peter denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion. Jesus was very aware of Peter’s failures, yet he saw Peter’s true heart. Jesus knew Peter would go on to do great things for God’s kingdom.
We, like Peter, have many shortcomings and frequently fail at our endeavors. However, when this happens we must never think that God cannot use us. Through God’s strength and power, we can achieve all that we are called to do.
The Author: Carol Goodman Heizer (Kentucky, USA)
Thought for the Day: I can rely on God’s strength today.
Prayer: Dear Father, help us to remember that we can rely on your strength to accomplish what you call us to do. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE WHO FEELS UNWORTHY

-------