Warnings

As we began our ride on Saturday, I asked the Lord to give me something to think about to write for my blog. Within a short period of time, he gave me the idea of Road Signs-warnings. As a biker, road signs are very important to us. I began looking at the signs we passed on the curvy highways we were riding. Here are some of them.  Stop signs, trucks turning, road construction, curves ahead 20 mph, bridge may ice in winter, weight limit on bridge, speed limit, loose gravel, railroad crossings, and yield to name a few. I got to meditating about these signs. They are like warnings to us bikers on the road. Some of them are more important than others Loose gravel is very important as you go into a very sharp curve in the mountains. On may roads, there are no guardrails to protect you from going on the edge of the mountain. If you don't slow down and heed the warning, you could be in big trouble. Another one that's especially important to bikers is curves ahead with a speed limit below it. We can decide we will not pay attention and continue at our regular rate of speed if we'd like. But, the smarter thing to do is to slow down as you come up on the curve, and then speed up as you go into the curve. This will give you the power you need to make it out of the curve safely.  Another important sign for bikers is railroad tracks. Bikers are to go across railroad straight across. not at a slant. If you take ther RR track at a slant, you will probably lose control of the bike as your tire gets stuck in the tracks. With all of these signs,we have choices to make. We can heed the warning and do what we know is best as a biker, or we can ignore the warning and suffer consequences.

When we went to services last night, the evangelist's message was on warnings we receive as Christians. Sometimes we heed those warnings and sometimes we don't. He used Peter and Jesus as an example. Jesus warned Peter he would deny Him 3 times. Peter vehemently denied he would do this and never would. And, yet before the crowed he did that very thing. He made 3 observations about this incident.

1---Jesus did give Peter some detailed warnings. We, as Christians, often receive warnings through the Word, messages or our Christian friends, or the Holy Spirit. How do we respond? Do we heed the warnings, or do we, like Peter, say we would never do this or that. And, off we go to do that very thing. Gives us something to think about. Maybe you have been like Peter and not heeded a warning and then decided that you could cover it up.  Probably 90% of the issues and problems in our churches and CMA are caused by us not heeding warnings that have been given to us.
Some examples,  like immorality, offenses, hurt feelings.

2---Jesus told Peter He was praying for him. Even though He knew what Peter was going to do, He was still interceding for him the same way he intercedes for me and you.

The story does not end with the rooster crowing. Even though he had denied Christ, Jesus was not done with Peter. Peter had failed Jesus. The story was about to change. When the ladies arrived at the tomb, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was not there. He had risen!! The angel tells them to go tell the disciples and especially Peter.

3---Jesus made the first move torward restoring His relationship with Peter after Peter denied Him. This shows just how rich in Mercy and grace He is toward us as His children. They spent time together during the next 40 days reconciling their relationship.

How much more so, then, should be we extend mercy and grace to those who may have wronged us in some way? Do we have the right to hold on to that grudge and resentment and bitterness?

Think about these things. When was the last time you were warned? How did you respond? What were the consequences?

Lord, help us to beware of warnings we receive and be willing to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us.