DAY 44
DATE: 2/13/2013
Good Morning! My name is Jeff Herrold and I was asked to give you a devotional thought from the book of Acts chapters 2 and 9.
KEY VERSE:
Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
REFLECTIONS:
Wow! Is this the same guy? Peter?? A few pages back he denied Jesus not once, not twice, but the third time he got so defensive and adamant about it that he cursed at the person that asked the question. This doesn’t make any sense. Now Peter preaching in front of thousands of people?? What happened? If we rewind a little bit back into Peter’s life we see how he was first brought to Jesus by his brother; he then was chosen to be one of the twelve disciples, started seeing Jesus perform miracles – the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on water. He was one of the top three disciples; he got to see things that the some of the other disciples never got to see: the exclusive by-invitation-only all-night prayer meeting. And then there was the famous denial. Surely after Peter denies Jesus we will never hear about him again, will we?? I thought he was going to be like that promising politician that rises to stardom, does something stupid, and then you never hear from that person again. But we find that in John 21, something miraculous happens. We see Jesus, his friend, his master, come over to Peter, put His arm around him, and offer him something only Jesus can do, something that he never imagined would happen: forgiveness, redemption, a new start, a clean slate. Then He told Peter, I still want to use you, Peter. You may have some scars, but I am not done yet with you. “Feed my sheep.”
After this conversation we see Peter’s life was never the same. He goes on to preach at the day of Pentecost and sees thousands saved. We see him in chapter 9 heal the sick and raise the dead. We see him as the major leader in the church. And then he goes on to be crucified just like his Savior was.
APPLICATION:
I don’t know about you, but there are days when I could walk on water, then there are days that I am denying Jesus. Days that I would follow Jesus anywhere if He said Follow me, and days that I feel like a failure in my marriage or as a parent, or unworthy to be used. But I am reminded of this story and how Jesus says it is through our weakness He is made strong. When God uses someone like me and you, people can’t say how great I am, but how great HE is!! You have a story to share just like Peter. Share it!!
Thank you for being a part of the 100-Day Challenge. Thanks for reading, and you have a blessed day!
In Christ,
Jeff
WHEN YOU GOT SAVED: 5 yrs old
FAMILY: Holly (wife), Bella 5, Riley 3, Easton 7months
OCCUPATION: Farmer
MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT AT VBC: Sunday School, Children’s Church, King’s Kids
DREAM VACATION: Israel
HOBBIES: No hobbies, have children