DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 3
WORD OF WISDOM
Some people don't lose weight anymore. They loan it out and it comes back
with interest.
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DAILY DEVOTION
God's Faithful Promises
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the
same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the
Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost,
that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he
came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the
child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Luke 2:25-27
The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of God's
faithfulness to keep His promises. Everything that the Old Testament
prophets had foretold was fulfilled. The timing and location of Jesus' birth
were written down hundreds of years before it happened. There is no way
human prediction or planning could have been so precise, but God always does
exactly what He says He will do. So even though Simeon was an old man, he
did live long enough to see the baby Jesus when Joseph and Mary brought Him
to the Temple for His dedication. It was not a coincidence, but rather the
prompting of the Holy Spirit that made sure Simeon was in the right place at
the right time so God's promise would be fulfilled.
When we see that God has declared something, we know it is certain and true,
whether it has happened yet or not. Scoffers may mock the promises of God
that are yet to come, as Peter saw in His day: "And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:4). Yet
they are wrong. We must not allow the passage of time or the skepticism of
critics to weaken our faith that God will do what He promised. No power can
defeat His purpose, and no enemy can stop His plan from moving forward.
Every promise of God is reliable.
The Christmas story is a wonderful reminder that God always does what He
says He will do.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Peter
Luke 22:31-62 Easy-to-Read Version
Peter Will Be Tested and Fail
31 "Satan has asked to test you men like a farmer tests his wheat. O Simon,
Simon,[c] 32 I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your
brothers be stronger when you come back to me."
33 But Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go to jail with you. I will
even die with you!"
34 But Jesus said, "Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you
will say you don't know me. You will say this three times."
Be Ready for Trouble
35 Then Jesus said to the apostles, "Remember when I sent you out without
money, a bag, or sandals? Did you need anything?"
The apostles said, "No."
36 Jesus said to them, "But now if you have money or a bag, carry that with
you. If you don't have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. 37 The
Scriptures say,
'He was considered a criminal.'
This Scripture must happen. It was written about me, and it is happening
now."
38 The followers said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords."
Jesus said to them, "That's enough."[d]
Jesus Prays Alone
39-40 Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers
went with him. (He went there often.) He said to his followers, "Pray for
strength against temptation."
41 Then Jesus went about 50 steps away from them. He knelt down and prayed,
42 "Father, if you are willing, please don't make me drink from this cup.[e]
But do what you want, not what I want." 43 Then an angel from heaven came to
help him. 44 Jesus was full of pain; he struggled hard in prayer. Sweat
dripped from his face like drops of blood falling to the ground.[f] 45 When
he finished praying, he went to his followers. He found them asleep, worn
out from their grieving. 46 Jesus said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get
up and pray for strength against temptation."
Jesus Is Arrested
47 While Jesus was speaking, a crowd came up. It was led by Judas, one of
the twelve apostles. He came over to Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you using the kiss of friendship to
hand over the Son of Man to his enemies?" 49 The followers of Jesus were
standing there too. They saw what was happening and said to Jesus, "Lord,
should we use our swords?" 50 And one of them did use his sword. He cut off
the right ear of the servant of the high priest.
51 Jesus said, "Stop!" Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him.
52 Jesus spoke to the group that came to arrest him. They were the leading
priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the Jewish soldiers. He said to them,
"Why did you come out here with swords and clubs? Do you think I am a
criminal? 53 I was with you every day in the Temple area. Why didn't you try
to arrest me there? But this is your time-the time when darkness rules."
Peter Is Afraid to Say He Knows Jesus
54 They arrested Jesus and took him away to the house of the high priest.
Peter followed Jesus but stayed back at a distance. 55 The soldiers started
a fire in the middle of the yard and sat together. Peter sat with them. 56 A
servant girl saw him sitting there. She could see because of the light from
the fire. She looked closely at Peter's face. Then she said, "This man was
also with Jesus."
57 But Peter said this was not true. He said, "Lady, I don't know him." 58 A
short time later, someone else saw Peter and said, "You are also one of
them."
But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
59 About an hour later, another man said, "It's true. I'm sure this man was
with him, because he is from Galilee."
60 But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!"
Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord
turned and looked into Peter's eyes. And Peter remembered what the Lord had
said, "Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will say three times
that you don't know me." 62 Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.
Footnotes
Luke 22:31 Simon Simon's other name was Peter.
Luke 22:38 "That's enough" Or "Enough of that!" meaning "Don't talk anymore
about such things."
Luke 22:42 cup A symbol of suffering. Jesus used the idea of drinking from a
cup to mean accepting the suffering he would face in the terrible events
that were soon to come.
Luke 22:44 Some Greek copies do not have verses 43 and 44.
