FAITH CAPSULE: It is not the time to keep your distance but to take a stand in the word of God.

Luke 22:54-63

Peter followed Jesus well enough to know better and not deny Jesus in his entire walk when Jesus was arrested. Jesus spoke to Peter, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (Matthew 26:34) Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35) Peter was so sure of his strength when he responded back to Jesus. No man is strong and the word of God confirms it stating, “For by strength no man shall prevail.” (1 Samuel 2:9) Jesus warned Peter ahead of time but Peter could not avoid but denied Jesus three times just as the Lord revealed. Peter spent time with Jesus, he was a man that witnessed the miracles of Jesus and he denied Jesus. The warning and stumbling of Peter demonstrates that the race of life is only by grace. It will take only the grace of God to keep a believer from stumbling where stumbling is eminent. If a man like Peter could deny Jesus, what will happen to believers of today when challenges show up?
It is written, “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.” (Luke 22:54) Peter’s denial started at the point when he began to follow Jesus at a distance. At every time one makes the choice to follow the word of God at a distance, it becomes taking a deliberate step into a big fall in life.
Peter’s denial was a gradual process and it was not sudden. As a believer, are you experiencing any life challenges that are threatening and intimidating your well-being? It is not the time to keep your distance but the time to get close by spending more time in the living word of God.
Today, do not let your situation or your challenges dictate how or when you will spend time in the word of God. Give more time to the word to be able to eliminate distance and maintain a stand in the Lord.
Keeping distance from the word of God is an indirect way of giving self to Satan’s request of a believer’s life. It is written in the book of Luke 22:31, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Jesus revealed the purpose and program of Satan for the life of Simon. Jesus gave Peter the details, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:34) Peter prevailed because of Jesus’s prayer for Peter.

Prayer for today:Ask God for the grace of strength which makes man to prevail by not denying Him.