07/07/11

Why Peter did not become Judas

Mark 14:66 - And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

Among the disciples there were 2 who denied Jesus one was Judas and the other was Simon Peter.

Judas sold Jesus for a few coins but when he realized his mistake he hung himself from the tree and Jesus confirm before of him being lost by calling him as son of perdition (destruction) indirectly calling him as son of Satan. Judas' being sorry but yet did not repent for he did not come to Jesus to ask for forgiveness and to make a commitment to change his life.

On the other hand we have Simon Peter who was among the other 11 who deserted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. All the others ran away and hid themselves in a secure place but Simon Peter took the risk to follow Jesus. It is true that he verbally denied Jesus thrice but yet in his heart he had held on to Jesus and therefore took the risk to follow Him.

All of us some or other time in our lives deny Jesus or run away from Him, and most of us will be sorry for doing that. What matters is after being sorry are we going to be like Judas or like Simon Peter. Simon Peter even though denied Jesus still loved Him and believed in Him being merciful and forgiving.

Our God is merciful and forgiving and all who repent and come to Him are not disappointed.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are Righteous and in your Word You confirm that no sin will go without punishment, but in You are merciful God who forgives those who repent and turn to You. The sinner You forgive is set free but those who still carry the sin will be punished. Lord, we thank You through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ You made a way for us to be set free from the yoke of sin and your punishment of death. Lord, we pray for the many sinners who are weak in heart that they truly repent and come to You knowing You are merciful...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
John 17:12
12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Hebrew 2:2-3
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Exodus 34:6,7 (Italic removed)
6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."

Micah 7:18
18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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