Today : Denial
TODAY’S VERSE
“Peter declared, ‘Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ – “Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And he went away, weeping bitterly.” Matthew 26:33-34, 75 (NLT)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
How hard it must have been for Peter to face the fact that he had denied Christ. It was obvious that he did not want to. He was sincere when he assured Jesus that he would not desert Him in His time of need. He loved Christ, but like so many of us, good intentions were not good enough. He did deny Christ. But I must be honest, I too have denied. I have denied Christ in my selfishness. I have denied Him in my lack of faith. I have denied Him in my lack of witness. I have denied Him in my lack of giving. Perhaps this is why Paul encourages us to grow in Christ. To participate in a process of growth so we learn from the past. This is what Christ allowed Peter to do. He did not chide Peter. He did not excommunicate him or shun him. Rather, He made it a goal to see Peter after His resurrection and specifically re-engage him into ministry. He cooked a breakfast and took Peter aside. He did not ask Peter three times if he denied him. He did not say, “Why not tell us all, Peter, how you claimed you would never deny me and then three times in one night you told people you did not even know me.” Instead, Jesus asked Peter three times, perhaps once for each time he denied, “Peter do you love me?” When Peter was convinced, Jesus sent him out to “feed my sheep.” Today, don’t let the guilt of past denials stop you from re-engaging with Jesus. Confess your sin and accept His forgiveness. He loves you and is waiting for you to serve Him again.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess that I often deny You. I deny You in my talk, in my behavior, in my thought life. I ask Your forgiveness. Cleanse me and help me to live for You in a way that is pleasing to You.
AMEN
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION & MEDITATION
Today I will live for Christ
Focus on today. It is so easy to live with the past or future constantly making demands on us. Today, forget the past and see that Christ has asked you to live for Him today. Visualize yourself with Jesus. You are meeting with Him and He asks you what are you going to do today? Visualize what you think your day will be. Ask Him to guide you, to give you direction, to help you react to the situations He brings your way. See yourself happy and at peace as you live your life today in complete faith and trust in Him. Affirm, “Today I will live for Christ.”