A Daily Wake-up Call

Growing Daily

A Daily Wake-Up Call

Historically, churches have often placed weathervanes with roosters on their steeples. I thought it was just a quaint country look. But apparently, the rooster served as a reminder to the congregation to live publicly what they confessed privately. An allusion to the rooster’s crow when Peter denied Christ (Luke 22:60-62).

Of all the disciples, Peter was the first to confess Jesus as the Messiah in private (Matt. 16:16-18). He "got it" when the others were still just tagging along. But when the opportunity came to acknowledge Jesus publicly, he hesitated.  

Jesus forgave Peter—as He is ready to forgive all of us—and within two months Peter was proclaiming Jesus to thousands of people (Acts 2:36-41). He became the rock upon which Christ built the church.

I imagine that for the rest of his life every time he heard a rooster crow—perhaps every morning—Peter remembered his failure. At first it was probably with a sinking heart, but after a while maybe it became an inspiration. A battle cry. Perhaps he thought, “One more day to speak out. I've been given one more day to live publicly what I believe privately."

Forgiveness didn’t simply cover Peter’s past—it drew him forward in a new commission (John 21:15-17).

That’s grace. Mercy that’s new every morning, turning even our deepest failures into reminders that we are still called, still trusted, still being sent.


- Catherine Reid