Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 30, 2023
Mark 14:27-31, 66-72
27 Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions. 28 But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.” 30 But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
66 Meanwhile, Peter was below in the courtyard. A woman, one of the high priest’s servants, approached 67 and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared at him and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t understand what you’re saying.” And he went outside into the outer courtyard. A rooster crowed. 69 The female servant saw him and began a second time to say to those standing around, “This man is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again. A short time later, those standing around again said to Peter, “You must be one of them because you are also a Galilean.” 71 But he cursed and swore, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 At that very moment, a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered what Jesus told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down, sobbing.
Good Morning. Take time to be holy!
Most of us don’t like to admit our weaknesses to ourselves, let alone to others. Even when we reach a point where we can’t deny them privately, we still try to hide them from the outside world. In weakness, we show vulnerability. Within the context of societal order, exposed weaknesses lead to defeat or doom. In times of battle, we exploit our enemy’s deficiencies to get the upper hand and overcome them. To combat this, even when we are frail, we put on this facade to conceal our true selves.
Christ calls us to humble ourselves: 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10. Jesus shared many examples of the need for humility in the parables. Paul wrote many verses regarding his own need to embrace his weakness before God.
We are all sinners, and we all have faults. When we can own our weaknesses, then God can empower us to serve in amazing ways. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
Loving God, To humble ourselves is hard because we feel uncomfortable doing this. We like being the best because it feels good. Help us learn that being the best comes from humbling ourselves before you. Only then can we find our true potential. We love you! Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: With God’s help, I will be vulnerable, sharing my whole self with others.
Check your ego at the door! Pastor Liz
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