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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Beautiful Messes: Peter </span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his");
document.writeln("knees before Jesus and said, <i>Oh, Lord, please leave me \'€&#8220; I am such a sinful");
document.writeln("man</i>,\'€¦ Jesus replied to Simon, <i>Do not be afraid! From now on you will be fishing");
document.writeln("for people!</i> And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed");
document.writeln("Jesus.<sup>1</sup></font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">Peter is one of the great stories of a changed life in the");
document.writeln("Bible. He was originally named Simon, but Jesus changed his name to Peter which");
document.writeln("means rock. Peter was a fisherman by trade, which meant that he was gruff,");
document.writeln("unkept, and most likely used vulgar language. He was also known to have a");
document.writeln("boisterous temper. Even after choosing to follow Jesus, Peter was often known");
document.writeln("to act impulsively, but his strong character was beneficial when it came to following");
document.writeln("Jesus. When Jesus said follow me, Peter did not think twice about leaving");
document.writeln("everything he had and following Jesus. His faith journey as a disciple was not");
document.writeln("always easy, and even though Peter said he was willing to die for Jesus, he");
document.writeln("denied Jesus three times at the arrest and trial of Jesus. </font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">Even with all his messiness, Peter was the first one to");
document.writeln("preach on the day of Pentecost after the coming of the Holy Spirit. He truly");
document.writeln("was one of the boldest apostles of all. He willingly suffered persecution,");
document.writeln("imprisonment, beatings, and even rejoiced at the fact that he was worthy to");
document.writeln("suffer disgrace for the sake of our Lord (Acts 5:41). It has been said that Peter");
document.writeln("was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same");
document.writeln("manner as Jesus. He went from being arrogant and impulsive to being a humble,");
document.writeln("willing, and obedient servant of the Lord even to death. He rejoiced knowing");
document.writeln("that he would be reunited with his Friend and Savior, Jesus. </font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">The story of Peter is one of transformation and hope. Perhaps");
document.writeln("being a disciple of Jesus never crossed his mind as he was working out at sea.");
document.writeln("He probably figured that was extent of his abilities. He knew he was a sinful");
document.writeln("man and was unworthy of the love of Jesus, but the moment he chose to follow Jesus");
document.writeln("was the moment his life changed forever. Jesus saw something in him that");
document.writeln("perhaps no one else had and gave him the opportunity to do great things. </font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">This is the same way Jesus feels about us as well. When we");
document.writeln("choose to follow Jesus, he does not see all the bad we have done or how unworthy");
document.writeln("we are, instead he sees us through his blood. He sees our potential and will");
document.writeln("use us to do great things if we are willing.</font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am a");
document.writeln("sinner and unworthy to be called your child. However, you loved me just as I am");
document.writeln("and chose to send your Son, Jesus, to pay the price to wash away my sins and");
document.writeln("restore me. I choose to follow you and am available to be used by you for your");
document.writeln("glory. Thank you for seeing the best in me when I cannot see past my failures. I");
document.writeln("love you, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.</font></p>");
document.writeln("<ol style=\"margin-top:0in\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in\"><font size=\"3\">Luke");
document.writeln("     5:8, 10 (<i>NLT</i>). </font></li></ol>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">&nbsp;</font></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\">The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B. </font></p>");
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  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2026<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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