Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Never Give Up

"Lord, though everybody forsakes You, don't worry. I'll be with You till the end."

"Really, Peter? Before the cock crows you'll deny Me three times."

Peter heard it, but he didn't believe it. His doctrine said, "If the Lord says it, it must be true, but maybe it's a metaphor of some kind. I mean, you're talking about the 'Rock'!" How do you see yourself today? Do you say, "I'd never do that; I would never act that way; I would never sell out"?

"Peter, Satan desires to sift you, but I've prayed for you," Jesus said.

Can you say praise God? You see, we've got an enemy who wants to destroy us. We have an image of ourselves, a doctrine, and a desire, but the capacity isn't in our own strength. We can be successful only in our momentary obedience and yielding to His lordship. It's in our momentary dying that we live, because if we're going to live, we've got to die. Because we're so oblivious to our natural surroundings, the Lord helps us to see how we need to die in every area of our lives.

Jesus said, "The devil is out to get you, but I've prayed for you."

"Praise God, I appreciate it, Lord. I really do. But pray for the other guys a little more, because I'll never leave You. They're the guys that really need Your help."

Finally Peter swears an oath, "I don't know the Man!" As the cock crows, Peter looks into the eyes of Jesus and sees the brokenness. The emotion, the temptation, the moment is stronger than your doctrine. Doctrine makes sense, but doctrine doesn't hold up; only relationship and the knowledge of God through experience hold up. Peter was experiencing his doctrine and faith was being worked in him. For faith to be perfected, it has to be tried. The trying of your faith works patience (James 1:3). You're not going to complete this journey without failures, without pressure, without hard times, without tears, without rejections, without fear! But faithful is He who called you who will do it (1 Thess. 5:24). He that endures till the end shall be saved (Matt. 24:13).

Here was Peter in his denial of the Lord, then all of a sudden the resurrection takes place! "Go tell the disciples and Peter that I'm risen! Tell the man I'm risen--and I'm not mad at him. I went through all of this for you, Peter, not to get rid of you, but to make you a new man." Can you put down self-will and pride long enough to accept the gift that Jesus has for you? Can you own up to the fact that you're a failure so that you might become a success? Can you own up to the fact that you're nothing, but you can do all things through Christ? That's what He wants to bring every one of us to in our lives; and whatever it takes, He'll get you there. All these things are working together for our good. Yes, the chastening is grievous for the moment, but it works in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness! (Heb. 12:11) The Spirit of God is saying to you, "Don't faint. Don't quit."

Winston Churchill was known for his quips and great, stirring speeches that kept a whole nation inspired under great moments of duress. As he stepped to the podium, this speech came forth. He had the answer that would bring victory to that nation. As he looked into the eyes of these people--fearful, doubting--he said, "Never, never, never give up," and then sat down. Sometimes there's nothing else to say but that. That's God's word to you.

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