OUR DAILY BREAD             Sunday, February 5, 1995
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READ:  Luke 22:31-34

                THE BOUNCE TEST

    "I have prayed for you, that your faith
                should not fail."

                                -- Luke 22:32

With cranberries, it's the bounce that counts.  While the
quality of some fruits is judged by their firmness and
color, the best cranberries are distinguished by their
ability to "bounce like a golf ball."


"Science Digest" reports that freshly picked berries are
processed by pouring them down a series of steplike boards.
At each level, only those berries that bounce over an 8- to
10 inch barrier pass the quality test.

Christians face a "bounce test" too.  The strength of
their faith can be measured by their ability to bounce
back after a fall.  Although failure is painful, it offers
an occasion to reaffirm our heart's devotion to Christ.

Jesus knew that the apostle Peter was about to trip over
his own self-confidence and zeal by denying Him.  Yet
the Lord saw beyond this devastating failure to the
disciple's repentance and restoration.  When He assured
Peter that He had prayed that his faith would not fail,
He was saying, in effect, "Peter, you will bounce back
after your fall."

If you've had a spiritual reversal, don't give up.
Christ can restore you.  You can be useful to Him
again, even after a hard fall.  It's the "bounce"
of your faith and God's forgiveness that will enable
you to go on.

                                --  Martin R. De Haan II

        Though oftentimes we stray from You
        And disregard Your Word,
        In tenderness You bring us back --
        Our gracious, loving Lord!

                        -- Dennis J. De Haan

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          THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
--------------------------------------------

   The Lord may allow us to fall down
    so that we'll learn to look up.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Numbers 1-3

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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of
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