Pray for me, too

... Been thinking about this after Bible Study

In the Gospel of Luke Jesus is about to be crucified. He is praying to the Father, He is in anguish, He is extremely sorrowful. He knows what he is to face. He already described it to his disciples before hand in some detail. If that wouldn't consume your thoughts and feelings and dread enough...

BUT

The Lord prays for Peter. I just find that incredible.

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!" Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and that when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren."

Luke 22 v 31 & 32

That the Son of Man should even give any care to others in his own time of such agony...

What is more... Peter even goes on to boast that he,(emphasis on the he- if you didn't catch that!) indeed would do anything for his Lord, even to prison and to death... He even compares himself to the other disciples in other Gospels, saying that even if all fall away, he won't.
The heroic Peter even forgets where his ability to resist temptation comes from...

...and yet, Jesus, knowing all this, prays for him!

Isn't that enough to lift your Spirit?

persecuted for righteousness sake

I am enthusiastically awaiting my first night at Bible Study Fellowship. I have been so keen to be in a group Bible study again! The Bible study will spend the year looking at the book of Matthew. I have been reading through Matthew with Joshua each morning as well - it has led to lots of interesting discussions.

We looked at the Beatitudes and particularly "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". This then led us on to talking about precious Christians around the globe who suffer for Christ. We looked at some particular articles from the Barnabus Aid magazine - just a shocking reminder of how desperately we need to come on our knees about these fellow believers. Joshua was particularly concerned for a boy of 12 or 13 in Vietnam we read about who refused to leave his church and was beaten until unconscious (by security forces). His family later came and carried him home, unconscious. The article said he is still unable to walk. I know... there are loads of these cases everywhere... some just too graphic and heart-wrenching to read to my boy.

...Yes, there are so many who are physically persecuted for His name sake!

Spare some time in prayer for them tonight!