Day 287, or October the 14th. What's your memory
like? Our thoughts today are from Mark chapter
14, verse 31. But Peter insisted emphatically,
even if I have to die with you, I will never
disown you. And all the others said the same.
And now the big picture surrounding this verse. Towards
the end of his gospel, Mark records how Mary
anoints the feet of Jesus, then Judas betrays
him at Passover, and later Peter denies him.
Jesus is taken prisoner and tried by the Jews
and the Romans. The crucifixion should have been
the end, but it was a glorious start of the gospel
going around the world, to you and me. And now
our action step for today. In the Garden of Gethsemane,
Peter reassures Jesus that he will never let
him down. This is shortly after leaving the upper
room where Jesus and his disciples celebrate
their last Passover meal and the very first communion
or Eucharist. Everyone agrees that they can be
relied on. Within hours, however, they are all
scattered and Peter even denies that he ever
knew Jesus, never mind being a follower of his.
One of the reasons this verse is so encouraging
is that it reminds us that we all will disappoint
Jesus no matter how hard we try, but Peter was
forgiven and reconciled, and so can we be when
we repent and turn back to Jesus. I heard about
a shopkeeper who was regularly tempted to cheat
with weights or change when he served his customers.
Then he was converted. his old lifestyle didn't
disappear but he found it helpful to excuse himself
when temptation came and take a look at a picture
he kept of the evangelist who led him to Christ
i know folk who carry crosses or wear badges
to remind them of Jesus never depend on these
aids but if they help to remind you of Jesus
then use them No matter what the idea, if it
works, use it. It doesn't matter how you do it,
just find a way of bringing Christ to mind, otherwise
you will be on that merry-go-round that always
finishes up with betrayal. So how will you do
it?