Matthew 26: 75
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
--NIV
In the name of the One Who calls us to repentance, amen.
How strange and mysterious are the workings of our Lord. When we do evil to Him, He looks for us, and calls us to repentance by showing us our sins in many ways. In this passage He used the crowing of a rooster to remind Peter of the warning He had given, and to show Peter his sin. This week we consider repentance, and how our Savior calls us to it.
Peter's repentance was based on what Jesus had said to him earlier. This is common for many of us. We study God's word. We learn what He expects of us. Then we fall into sin and some event brings God's word into our conscious mind. It can be a movie, a conversation, an injury or illness. However it comes, we see our sins and are sorry for them. True repentance then looks to Christ in helplessness.
It is then that our Savior comes and reminds us that even though we may have denied Him, He still loves us and took that sin as His own. He forgives us. From that forgiveness springs joy, not only in our own heart, but also among the angels in heaven. May you always be led to such repentance. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, implant Your word so deeply into our minds that when we do sin, Your word is easily brought into our consciousness. More than Your stern and holy Law, implant Your life-giving Gospel in our minds so that we may always be comforted in repentance unto life. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.