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Good morning!
“Your accent betrays you!” says a female servant to Peter, who is adamantly denying his association with the Lord.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Peter insists.
Having an “accent” in ancient times was a dead giveaway if you were trying to make a break with the past—and make a new name for yourself. People often lived in one area amongst their extended family their entire lives; so many different languages and dialects persisted, particularly in more isolated places.
One’s way of speaking would call attention to the presence of an alien or stranger in your midst, someone who might be dangerous. In this case, Peter’s “accent” is linking him to Jesus “the Galilean,” whom authorities have arrested and are roughly interrogating.
Christ’s prediction that Peter would deny Him 3 times before the cock crows is coming true.
Jesus would forgive Peter his weakness and fear. Peter would have been arrested and killed alongside Jesus if he had admitted his belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. And Christ’s disciples had to live on to be witnesses and tell the story of Jesus who went to the cross for our sakes—and was resurrected from the dead.
People were kidding me last night at the barbecue at the assisted living center that I have an accent. That after I was away for 2 Sundays visiting my brother and other family members, I came back to Renville with an even more pronounced accent.
People have been noticing my “accent” for the last 25 years or so, in every place I have lived since graduating from college in Baltimore, Maryland. I wasn’t from Baltimore, either, and if you think I have a funny accent, you should hear how Baltimoreans talk—how they call everybody “Hon,” even when you are a stranger.
I don’t mind that you notice my “accent”—as long as you hear my message. I am not going to deny my association with Jesus Christ.
That’s why I have come to live in a place where I am still strange to you, even if I am no longer a “stranger.” I have come to be a witness for Jesus—to tell His story and to call you to repentance, like He did during His ministry on earth. I have also come to tell you of God’s love.
The time to turn back to the Lord and recommit your lives to Him is now. He is coming soon to gather His Church to Himself. And I can’t wait! Prepare your hearts now—open them to His loving ways. Let go of fear and mistrust.
When Jesus comes, there will be no more “strangers” in His Church. No one will be marginalized or ostracized for speaking differently or being otherwise unacceptable to the majority. God’s love will fill and complete us, removing all remaining unrighteousness from our hearts and minds, once and for all.
There will be no more suspicion or prejudice to divide.
We will all be one in Him.
Prayer: Holy Lord, how can we ever thank you for loving us, despite our weaknesses—despite how many times we fall short of following in Jesus’ footsteps? How often have we run away from what You have asked us to do—take up our crosses and follow Him? Thank you for forgiving us and giving us new life and new identities in Christ, which begin right now. In this world. Yesterday—when we failed to love unconditionally and forgive quickly—is gone. Today is another chance to glorify You. Help us to see past the things that make us different from one another. Help us to accept others with different viewpoints, as long as they are loving You and seeking to serve You with their lives. Who are we to judge—when You alone search and know the hearts of all human beings? Build our faith. Build our trust. Build Your Church, using us to accomplish Your heavenly purposes. In Your Son’s precious name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Joshua 9:3-21; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 26:69-75.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
Good morning!
“Your accent betrays you!” says a female servant to Peter, who is adamantly denying his association with the Lord.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Peter insists.
Having an “accent” in ancient times was a dead giveaway if you were trying to make a break with the past—and make a new name for yourself. People often lived in one area amongst their extended family their entire lives; so many different languages and dialects persisted, particularly in more isolated places.
One’s way of speaking would call attention to the presence of an alien or stranger in your midst, someone who might be dangerous. In this case, Peter’s “accent” is linking him to Jesus “the Galilean,” whom authorities have arrested and are roughly interrogating.
Christ’s prediction that Peter would deny Him 3 times before the cock crows is coming true.
Jesus would forgive Peter his weakness and fear. Peter would have been arrested and killed alongside Jesus if he had admitted his belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. And Christ’s disciples had to live on to be witnesses and tell the story of Jesus who went to the cross for our sakes—and was resurrected from the dead.
People were kidding me last night at the barbecue at the assisted living center that I have an accent. That after I was away for 2 Sundays visiting my brother and other family members, I came back to Renville with an even more pronounced accent.
People have been noticing my “accent” for the last 25 years or so, in every place I have lived since graduating from college in Baltimore, Maryland. I wasn’t from Baltimore, either, and if you think I have a funny accent, you should hear how Baltimoreans talk—how they call everybody “Hon,” even when you are a stranger.
I don’t mind that you notice my “accent”—as long as you hear my message. I am not going to deny my association with Jesus Christ.
That’s why I have come to live in a place where I am still strange to you, even if I am no longer a “stranger.” I have come to be a witness for Jesus—to tell His story and to call you to repentance, like He did during His ministry on earth. I have also come to tell you of God’s love.
The time to turn back to the Lord and recommit your lives to Him is now. He is coming soon to gather His Church to Himself. And I can’t wait! Prepare your hearts now—open them to His loving ways. Let go of fear and mistrust.
When Jesus comes, there will be no more “strangers” in His Church. No one will be marginalized or ostracized for speaking differently or being otherwise unacceptable to the majority. God’s love will fill and complete us, removing all remaining unrighteousness from our hearts and minds, once and for all.
There will be no more suspicion or prejudice to divide.
We will all be one in Him.
Prayer: Holy Lord, how can we ever thank you for loving us, despite our weaknesses—despite how many times we fall short of following in Jesus’ footsteps? How often have we run away from what You have asked us to do—take up our crosses and follow Him? Thank you for forgiving us and giving us new life and new identities in Christ, which begin right now. In this world. Yesterday—when we failed to love unconditionally and forgive quickly—is gone. Today is another chance to glorify You. Help us to see past the things that make us different from one another. Help us to accept others with different viewpoints, as long as they are loving You and seeking to serve You with their lives. Who are we to judge—when You alone search and know the hearts of all human beings? Build our faith. Build our trust. Build Your Church, using us to accomplish Your heavenly purposes. In Your Son’s precious name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Joshua 9:3-21; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 26:69-75.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
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