GOD Morning! Oh, Really? March 16, 2018

GOD Morning! Oh, Really? 3.16.18


“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” John 13:33-38


Every time I do the easier thing, I am Peter who denied Jesus three times. I make bold proclamations, and then I push them to the back burner. I can’t even remember all of the times that I have had specific plans to serve like Jesus served only to have them fade away into nothingness.

I could itemize the failed promises that I have made to God right now. But I won’t bore you with them.

Have you ever promised something to someone and later hoped that they forgot about it? Or maybe hoped that they weren’t really paying attention? God listens to every word we say and also hears every thought that we think. He has no memory challenges whatsoever.

How do we fix this? Do we simply walk around, full of shame and sorrow about our miserable selves? No. We start over today to live intentionally for Jesus. We have the privilege of starting fresh every day. I have tears right now, as I bask in the mercy of my heavenly Father.

“Dear Jesus, I am pricked in my heart this morning. Please forgive me. I have always been so disappointed in Peter for denying You three times after promising You that He would die for You. Well, I am constantly promising You that I will live for You a hundred percent. And serve like You served. And many times, I fail miserably. I am always re-committing my life to You and then slipping back into my lazy ways. I humbly ask that I can start over today. And live intentionally. I give this day to You. I give my time to You. My eyes are wide open today, Jesus. I want to embrace the sorrow and suffering around me. I want to love like You loved. In Your precious name I pray, AMEN.”