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bigmike

Matthew 26:69-70 (LSB) 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
It is well-known among anyone who is a follower of Christ, or anyone who has spent time in God’s word that Peter had his ups and downs, especially as a young believer.
His early years walking with Jesus (literally) were laden with highs and lows.
He had incredible moments of divine revelation, and equally powerful stumbles and falls.
Above, Jesus had been arrested, and Peter had followed as Jesus was led away to be questioned and charged as a criminal.
The verses above are Peter’s first denial of Jesus when he was accused of being one of His followers.
And here is more.
Matthew 26:71-72 (LSB) 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”
And Peter went on to deny Jesus a third time, swearing an oath that he didn’t even know Him.
He cried bitterly after his third denial (Matthew 26:75), realizing that what Jesus had spoken had come to pass.
But God is a restorer; the God who forgives a repentant heart.
And restore Peter, He did!
If we fast forward to the early days of the church, we can see the power of God that was operating through Peter:
Acts 5:15 (LSB) 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.
This was the same man who wept bitterly on the night of Jesus’ arrest, now walking full of God’s Spirit, bringing mighty signs and wonders to further the gospel and the kingdom of God.
Peter was flesh and bone, just as you are and I am. He fell; he got back up. And he let God lead him, restore him, and use him for the rest of his life.
And God will do the same for us if we allow Him to.
Yes, we fail. Yes, we fall. And, yes, we may even do things that make it look like we deny Him.
But He is the God of restoration. And let us never forget that.

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