Luke 22:31-34 The Cock Will Crow
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: December 4, 2018 Luke 22:31-34
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers. And he said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You, both into prison and into death. And He said, I say to you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before you shall deny knowing Me three times.
(Revelation of God / Understanding the Text) Jesus knew ahead of time exactly what would happen to Peter. I wonder how He knew that Satan desired to have Peter. Did Satan make some kind of statement to God, or was it simply the foreknowledge of what would happen that sparked this phrasing. The Old Testament does not mention Satan that much, but Jesus speaks of Satan knowledgeably. Satan means “the accuser,” so it is like a nickname for the one who fights against God. Jesus was warning Simon that he was about to be under direct attack from dark forces, and Peter ignored the warning. Peter got defensive and denied having any problems.
(Understanding the Text) When I think sift, I think of flour, but this says as wheat, so I have to think that it refers to when they throw the wheat up in the air and the chaff blows away. Satan wanted to throw Peter all over the place and tear his life apart. Jesus was telling Peter ahead of time what would happen so that not all would be lost, only the worthless parts would be separated out.
This warning came with a promise. The warning was that Peter was about to be attacked by dark forces, and Peter would fail. Maybe, that is why Jesus addressed him as Simon at this point. Simon was the pre-conversion name. Then Jesus warned Simon that he would deny his Master not once but three times before dawn when the rooster crowed. Then, came the promise. Jesus promised Peter that he would be converted. Finally, came the call to service, which was also a reaffirmation of Jesus’ confidence in Peter. Peter was called to strengthen his brothers after the chaff was blown out of him, and he had repented from his past ways, i.e. been converted.
Another part of the promise was that Jesus had prayed to keep Peter. This is a powerful statement. Jesus, the Son of God, desired Peter specifically not to be lost. Peter was important to Jesus on an individual basis. The knowledge that His Master had known what he would do and that his Master had asked to keep Peter even knowing of his betrayal would have been a comfort that Peter needed during the long days of remorse and heartbreak that followed. When Jesus said that the accuser (Satan) desired to sift Peter, it means that during those long hours after betraying his Master, Peter would be battered by accusation after accusation of how he was unworthy and had failed the One he loved above all others. What kept him from buckling under the pressure like Judas had? Was it partly this reassurance? How did Peter find his way back to the other disciples? Did he come trudging in to the apartment where they were staying with head bowed? Did John go and find him after the crucifixion was over and bring him back?
Jesus’ words were also words that the other disciples needed to hear. Peter may have been more defensive because Jesus had publicly said that someone would betray Him earlier and never indicated who it was. Peter may have felt that he was being accused of being the betrayer who had woes pronounced upon him. In fact, some of the disciples may have come to believe that Peter was the betrayer that was condemned if not for Jesus’ words of affirmation here. By publicly telling the details of Peter’s fall to all the disciples and by saying that He, Jesus, had prayed to keep Peter, and by telling Peter to strengthen his brothers in front of the them, Jesus was telling the other disciples not to judge Peter or believe themselves higher than him because of his downfall. The other disciples were being warned that Peter was still part of the group.
(Application / Prayer) My application is that prayer is the only resource available when I am under attack from dark forces. Alone, I will fail miserably, but if I cling to God in prayer before, during, and after, I can be victorious. Without prayer, I will fail miserably. Father, please help me to choose You above the world and fear. I pray to let Your light shine through me to others. I pray to be able to be a comfort and strength rather than a weight to others. I know that I am totally incapable of doing this, but I pray that through You, I will be able to carry out the responsibilities in my life.