March 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

When Jesus died, nobody felt more miserable than Simon Peter, for Peter had lost his Master twice—once by death, along with the others, and once by denial. "I don't know him; I don't belong to him." That's what Peter had said.

Peter's restoration took place in three steps. First, the angel said to the women: "Tell his disciples and Peter . . ." (Mark 16:7). In other words: Peter, the news is for you, too. You still belong!

The second step came when Jesus himself appeared to Peter. We don't know what was said in this meeting. It was a private conversation. We only know that it happened (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5).

The third step was the official restoration. Perhaps the stage was set to remind us of the night when Peter denied his Lord. In the gray morning light, there was again a charcoal fire. There were three questions, and again Peter had to state three times his relationship to Jesus.

In answer to Christ's questions, Peter declares his love and loyalty. But he is much less sure of himself. The third time Peter is "hurt" by Jesus' questions.

And how did it all end? It ended with the same words with which it had started: "Follow me." But now these words have much more mean­ing. At first Peter was an eager novice. Now he is scarred, and he has been restored—through fear and faith and repentance. "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Everyone who has followed Christ for a while feels the way Peter felt. We learn to expect less of ourselves and more of Christ. We know that the road of discipleship brings suffering, and that only his grace is suf­ficient to keep us going. Whenever we look at Jesus, sometimes tired or bewildered or uncertain, he simply says to us, "Follow me."

REFLECTIONS

As led by the Spirit, confess your weaknesses and sin to God, and be restored by his invitation "Follow me."

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.