Fragile Stones

When you think of the qualities that make a man a man, or a woman a woman, of distinction, high on the list would be courage.

We need courage because, life's pressures can test the mettle of the strongest of personalities.

Unforeseen challenges, financial pressure, unemployment, temptation, frustration and the ever present reality that people, depend on you…people need you, can make anyone weak in the knees.

Not in his goals but in his transitions is man great. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peter the Galilean fisherman who responded to the call of Jesus on his life, knew all about transitions. I often think of Peter, and his many challenges and find great encouragement in the way He finished his race. He did so with courage!

To be sure the life of Peter reminds us of the danger of assumption, thinking were to strong to fail.

Remember "An unguarded strength, is a weakness". Adrian Rogers

Yet after his denial of Jesus, he wept bitterly, and those bitter tears of repentance brought Peter back to the Lord, and he became a great leader in the early church.

The life of Peter is a vivid picture of the response of one life to the call of Jesus.

In all of the Lords followers there will be occasions of fulfillment, and times of failure, sometimes, we are strong, sometimes we are weak, we are like...

“The Apostle Peter, Fragile stones”

Luke describes Peter’s denial of Jesus this way:

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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. ( Luke 22:54-62).

*All through this time he has been denying Jesus while sitting with unbelievers. Once you become enmeshed in the world, it is hard to leave!

What was Peter still doing there? He could not stand up for Jesus Christ in that compromising situation. He was with His enemies. And when Peter denies Him the last time the rooster crowed! *John MacArthur

We have a real enemy in Satan. You can count on this, He will attempt to wreck your devotion to the Lord sometime, somewhere, there is a courtyard waiting for you!

A fire crackling,in the distance, warm, inviting... offering the warmth of the World, and you will be invited to deny the Lord.

That denial opportunity might come in a temptation at work or school, or you will be enticed to let your guard down financially, emotionally, sexually or in some other way…When your time in the courtyard comes, what will you do?

Decide at this moment, that you belong to Jesus, He is your King, to deny Him, is not an option!

This devotional just might be, the Lord Jesus Christ looking at you, at me!

How should we respond? We ought to go out and weep bitterly and make our relationship with Him right if it's wrong!

There are so many things that Peter's life teaches us.

We learn that the strongest of Christians are often weak.

We learn the danger of self-confidence.

We learn that failure isn't final!

We learn we are all “Fragile Stones”.