Are You Having A Bad Day?
The Gospel of Luke
Luke Chapter 22
Scripture= Luke chapter 22:31-32, 34
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Observations and Applications=
Do you ever have bad days, days that seem to never end? Days that no matter what you do everything just seems to go wrong? On days like that I just want to go home and get into bed and wait them out. I want to be in a safe place where I can’t keep messing everything up and where I can’t hurt anyone else. I remember a song in my youth that had words that said, ‘Momma told me that there would be days like this, there would be days like this my Momma said.’
We have all had bad days. Days we would like to forget and we wished would have never happened. In Luke chapter 22, we read about Peter having such a day. Peter is told by Jesus that he will deny Jesus three times. Peter cannot believe what he is hearing, he wouldn’t do that! Peter states that he would go to prison for Jesus or even die for him but you know what happens don’t you? Peter denies Jesus, makes eye contact with Jesus, realizes what he has just done and runs away having committed the worst sin of his life. Talk about a bad day; could it have been any worse?
What is so amazing about this story is that we tend to focus so much of our attention on Peter’s actions that we overlook what Jesus said to Peter before any of these bad things had happened. Jesus told Peter that he had prayed for him. Now before you say, “isn’t that so sweet,” look at what Jesus says. He tells Peter that Satan wants to destroy Peter. Satan wants to ruin Peter’s life and to attack Jesus through one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends. But Jesus tells Peter, “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
When Peter could not see or believe what he was going to do, Jesus was there for him. Jesus pleaded in prayer for Peter, Jesus believed in Peter, Jesus knew what Peter would do and he still loved him. Jesus’ prayers are what enabled Peter to survive. Jesus even spoke into Peter’s life about a point and time beyond Peter’s fall. Jesus’ prayers saw Peter through the worst days of Peter’s life.
When we have bad days Jesus has been and always will be, there for us as well. When we fall Jesus is not there hovering over us watching us fail him and deny him with our words and our actions.
Romans 8:34 states; “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Jesus is pleading (interceding) for us just like he did for Peter. Jesus is not condemning us; he is praying us through and seeing us beyond our point of failure.
Hebrews 7:25 states, “Therefore he (Jesus) is able, once and forever, to save (completely) those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” As our high priest Jesus will always be there to pray us through. In our bad days Jesus is always there for us when we sin.
I John 2:1 states; “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”
So are you having a bad day or feeling bad about a day in your past? Remember that Jesus has been and always will be praying for you. And when you repent and turn back to Jesus, strengthen one of your brothers and sisters who like you are having a bad day!
Prayer=Lord Jesus, Thank for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Thank you for always remaining faithful even when I hurt you with my selfishness. I need your mercy and grace everyday. I chose today to see myself in you and to not allow my circumstances to define who I am.
Luke Chapter 22
Scripture= Luke chapter 22:31-32, 34
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Observations and Applications=
Do you ever have bad days, days that seem to never end? Days that no matter what you do everything just seems to go wrong? On days like that I just want to go home and get into bed and wait them out. I want to be in a safe place where I can’t keep messing everything up and where I can’t hurt anyone else. I remember a song in my youth that had words that said, ‘Momma told me that there would be days like this, there would be days like this my Momma said.’
We have all had bad days. Days we would like to forget and we wished would have never happened. In Luke chapter 22, we read about Peter having such a day. Peter is told by Jesus that he will deny Jesus three times. Peter cannot believe what he is hearing, he wouldn’t do that! Peter states that he would go to prison for Jesus or even die for him but you know what happens don’t you? Peter denies Jesus, makes eye contact with Jesus, realizes what he has just done and runs away having committed the worst sin of his life. Talk about a bad day; could it have been any worse?
What is so amazing about this story is that we tend to focus so much of our attention on Peter’s actions that we overlook what Jesus said to Peter before any of these bad things had happened. Jesus told Peter that he had prayed for him. Now before you say, “isn’t that so sweet,” look at what Jesus says. He tells Peter that Satan wants to destroy Peter. Satan wants to ruin Peter’s life and to attack Jesus through one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends. But Jesus tells Peter, “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
When Peter could not see or believe what he was going to do, Jesus was there for him. Jesus pleaded in prayer for Peter, Jesus believed in Peter, Jesus knew what Peter would do and he still loved him. Jesus’ prayers are what enabled Peter to survive. Jesus even spoke into Peter’s life about a point and time beyond Peter’s fall. Jesus’ prayers saw Peter through the worst days of Peter’s life.
When we have bad days Jesus has been and always will be, there for us as well. When we fall Jesus is not there hovering over us watching us fail him and deny him with our words and our actions.
Romans 8:34 states; “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Jesus is pleading (interceding) for us just like he did for Peter. Jesus is not condemning us; he is praying us through and seeing us beyond our point of failure.
Hebrews 7:25 states, “Therefore he (Jesus) is able, once and forever, to save (completely) those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” As our high priest Jesus will always be there to pray us through. In our bad days Jesus is always there for us when we sin.
I John 2:1 states; “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”
So are you having a bad day or feeling bad about a day in your past? Remember that Jesus has been and always will be praying for you. And when you repent and turn back to Jesus, strengthen one of your brothers and sisters who like you are having a bad day!
Prayer=Lord Jesus, Thank for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Thank you for always remaining faithful even when I hurt you with my selfishness. I need your mercy and grace everyday. I chose today to see myself in you and to not allow my circumstances to define who I am.
