Lavonne Baker

Center yourself on today’s reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer:
Inhale – Free us, Lord, from the chains of death
Exhale – that we might work for love and life.

Luke 22:61-62.
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:  “Before the rooster crows today you will disown me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Reflection:
This is a familiar and cringeworthy passage. We may have thought, “I wouldn’t do that, certainly not three times! Gosh Peter what’s the matter with you?”  We do deny the Lord though, and probably every day in all sorts of ways. We ignore a phone call or text, because we know that person likes to go on, and on, and on… We just aren’t up for that.  We’ll call or text later. It’s probably not important anyway.

We ignore a child when they want some attention, or we ignore people in our neighborhoods, or even in our own homes, that could just use a friendly word. We also ignore God. We say to ourselves, “I’m too busy right now for this or that”—prayer, study, service, etc.

But we’re not that bad!  Not a criminal right?  But as Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23 that  “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

Can you imagine the Lord looking at you like he did Peter?  Here is someone who literally can see into our dark, messy souls, and all that we hide there. This was a close personal friend of Peter’s for three years. Yet we can be assured he looked at Peter with love. No wonder Peter wept bitterly.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sins like Peter was convicted. Conviction is the moment where we know we’ve done something wrong. The Holy Spirit speaks to our minds and hearts. Maybe we weep bitterly like Peter. Maybe we just squirm a little over an incident from the day. A word spoken harshly, when there was no cause, or a horn honked at someone in a car ahead sitting too long at a green light. (Just two personal failings of mine.)

We can take heart though as Peter did. We remember the apostle John’s words. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)  Peter didn’t leave the courtyard and turn his back on Jesus forever. He confessed his weakness throughout his ministry, which encouraged and drew others to know Christ. Peter knew he was forgiven and free, and became the Rock upon which the church was built. But none of this would have happened if conviction didn’t come first. May we welcome conviction even if it’s hard.

Prayer:
God, thank you for looking at us as we really are and loving us enough to send your son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins. Convict us today when we turn away from you and point us back to Jesus. We know you always look at us as your beloved children. No one can snatch us out of your hands. All praise and glory to you Lord, now and forever. Amen.