THE GIFT of REALITY
- UnstoppableRevKev
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
“Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62
🔎Reflection: The rooster wasn’t Peter’s enemy; it was an audible alarm of heavenly grace. The sound that shattered his confidence was the lovingkindness of God confronting his pride, essentially saying, “Peter, see yourself rightly.” And that’s exactly what happened. After his third denial, Luke 22:61 tells us, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter.” That look, undeniably piercing and pure, wasn’t about condemnation, but conviction; it exposed the lie that was Simon’s sinful life - a religious lie apart from, and devoid of, Christ. It wasn’t about shaming, but breaking. It's all part of the process of refining. That’s what true divine grace does: it exposes the lie of sinful pride in order to refine, restore, and redeem the soul.
Peter had been warned on multiple occasions. In Matthew 26:34, Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, during this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus told him, “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus didn’t say, “if you turn again,” but when. Why? Because the divine gift of reality, i.e., recognition of our depravity and inability, is an essential and unavoidable part of the refining process.
We see this process, this pattern of savory redemptive grace, played out numerous times throughout Scripture. King David was exposed by Nathan’s parable (2 Samuel 12). The prodigal son was exposed in the pigpen (Luke 15). Isaiah was undone by a vision of God's holiness (Isaiah 6). And Peter? He was exposed by the crowing of a rooster.
Religious familiarity dulled Simon Peter. He thought walking in close proximity to and being familiar with Jesus was the same as authentic faith. As a dear pastor once shared, "Frequenting McDonald’s doesn’t make you a hamburger." The rooster was the conduit of God's gift: REALITY! Simon Peter was proud, weak, self-reliant, and had nothing to offer but the filthy rags of self-righteousness. This was the same man who just said, “Even if all fall away, I never will!” Now, after the rooster crowed, he wept bitterly.
It was the beginning of Peter’s real ministry, which is not about personal perfection, but one of obedience and authenticity (see Gal 2:11-14). We all need to realize our brokenness before we can be redeemed. We all need to recognize our spiritual poverty before we can be born again and enriched by the Holy Spirit. We all need to recognize we’re not GOD before we can be saved, led, and fed by Him. We all need to be broken before we can be refined into useful vessels for the divine smith.
🤺Action: Ask God to expose all the hidden pride in your life; don’t wait for a catastrophic rooster moment. Confess areas where you’ve denied Him, not just with words, but with actions, affection, and obedience. Not out of obligation, but adoration! King Jesus’ call to us, to you, is the same as it has ever been: “Follow Me.”
🙏Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the divine gift of shattered delusions. Please break me with your lovingkindness. Thank you for loving me enough to expose the lies perpetrated and perpetuated by my deceitful heart. Please help me to respond out of sincere and godly repentance, not shame or guilt. Thank you that you’ve already provided restoration and redemption through the perfect and sufficient gift of divine grace in Christ’s death and resurrection. Holy Spirit, I submit to your leadership. Help me to walk in Your grace as a devoted and functional member of Christ’s Body & Bride! I pray all this in the holy name of Jesus, and for the glory of God Almighty, Amen!
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Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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