Thursday, February 5, 2026

           All four gospels present the crucifixion of Jesus.  But each one adds some detail or texture to the story.  Luke presents an interesting observation about Peter’s behavior following Jesus’ arrest and prior to His crucifixion.  It is an observation that is easy to miss or overlook when we read Luke 22. But it is a behavior that has some significant relevance for us even today.  In Luke 22:54 we read, “Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.”  Peter “followed at a distance.”  This is the same Peter who earlier pledged his undying love and loyalty to Jesus.”  Peter said, his own words, “Lord I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” But in the moment of testing, at the hour when we had a chance to back up his talk with action, the best Peter could do was follow at a distance. I suppose he forgot all his big-talk, big-promises and willingness to walk with Jesus straight to prison or even the cross. Peter struck out on three pitches.  
            Following at a distance makes distant disciples.  On the same night, Peter would go on to deny Jesus three different and separate times.  So much for undying love and loyalty. So much for following Jesus all the way to prison and death.  Peter’s behavior teaches us a lesson—it can be easy to drift away from the Lord.  It can be easy to slip and slide away from the Lord much like we lose our footing on icy surfaces.  There can be seasons in life when we have drifted away from the Lord.  Maybe you are in the middle of such a season. Maybe something has turned your mind and heart away from the Lord.  Maybe you remember such a season.  Maybe someone you know and love is struggling with such a season of life—drifting and turning from the Lord.    
            The stress and demands of a job can turn us away from our faith.  Getting too caught up in hobbies or travel can turn us away from the Lord.  Loving money or possessions can capture our hearts and minds and turn us around.  A lack of Bible study, prayer and worship can turn us away from the Lord.  We begin to fill our minds with other things while our Bibles gather dust.  We find ourselves talking to almost anyone besides the Lord.  Anger, bitterness, resentment and grudges can lead us to drift away from the Lord. Whereas we once would not miss a chance to worship with other believers on Sunday, we now can’t seem to find the time or motivation to join with others in worship.
            Drifting away from the Lord rarely happens all at once.  It is a slow regression.  It can be like an undetected spiritual cancer that is slowly spreading and metastasizing and claiming more and more of our heart and mind.  It may be difficult to diagnose the cause as one particular thing—rather it is just the steady accumulation of many things that grab our spiritual eyes and ears and turn us from the Lord.  It is a slow grind that weakens and wearies us.    
            The good news is the Lord welcomes us back.  Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God looks for us, runs to us, welcomes us and rejoices when we return to Him.  You can come back to the Lord today.  Admit you have drifted.  Ask for His forgiveness.  Return to the things you once did—read your Bible, pray, worship, get back in church.  Do it NOW!  There is a way today to stop this dangerous drifting.  The Lord says in Malachi 3:7, “return to me and I will return to you.”  Jesus told the church in Ephesus, “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”  The Bible is one grand invitation to come to the Lord.  Some come to the Lord for the first time and receive salvation.  Some return to the Lord from a season of wandering and roaming.  Some come back to the Lord because they, like Peter, have followed the Lord but only at a distance.  The good news is this: the Lord is more ready to receive us, renew us and show us His love than we are to seek Him.  He loves us before we ever love Him.  We come to Him only in response to His finding us and choosing us to be His own.  If you are following at a distance today, it is time to come home.  Have a great Thursday!