Denying Christ

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY APRIL 17, 2003
(John 18:15-27)

Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the disciples who was acquainted with the High Priest. So that other disciple was permitted into the courtyard along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the girl watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The girl asked Peter, "Aren't you one of Jesus' disciples?"

"No," he said, "I am not!"

The police and the household servants were standing around a fire they had made, for it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself.

Inside, the High Priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them.

Jesus replied, "What I teach is widely known, for I have preached regularly in the synagogue and Temple; I have been heard by all the Jewish leaders and teach noting in private that I have not said in public. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. You have some of them here. They know what I said."

One of the soldiers standing there struck Jesus with his fist. "Is that the way to answer the High Priest?" he demanded.

"If I lied, prove it," Jesus replied. "Should you hit a man for telling the truth?"

Then Amas sent Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas the High Priest.

Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire, he was asked again, "Aren't you one of his disciples?"

"Of course not," he replied.

But one of the household slaves of the High Priest--a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off--asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?"

Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Denying Christ. One of the things that will always be associated with Peter is his denial of Christ after He was arrested. Peter becomes an easy target, and we often wonder how he could have been so close to the Lord, yet deny Him. In defense of Peter, let me first say that I have never been, nor have 99% of you reading this, been in a position where we could literally be killed for acknowledging our relationship with Jesus Christ. Peter was in fear for his life. I am not questioning your faith or love for the Lord, it is just something that none of us can say for sure unless we have actually been in that situation. That gets me to the point of today's Devotional. Peter denied Christ under fear for his life. Do you realize that every time you sin, rebel against God's plan and purpose for your life, you are also denying Christ?

I want you to focus today on the fact that God loves you so much, He sent His only son to this earth to die for your sins. When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, we do it by God's grace and our faith in who Jesus Christ is, and what He did for us on the cross. We give our lives to Him and pledge to live for Him, to follow Him. Actually, that is what Peter did when the Lord called him from his job as a fisherman. He left his family and friends to follow Jesus. So every time that we sin, we are literally denying the very One that we committed our lives to.

Let me speak very plain. When we go out drinking and partying with the world, we are denying Christ. When we go out to adult establishments, cruise the Internet for pornography, watch XXX movies we are denying Christ. When we put our faith and trust in alcohol, drugs, food, shopping, or any other thing, we are denying Christ. When we are involved in sexual relationships outside of marriage we are denying Christ. When we cheat on our income taxes we are denying Christ. When we lie or gossip, we are denying Christ. My friend, anytime you are doing things that you know are in rebellion to God's Word... you are denying Him just like Peter did!!!

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?"

"Yes," Peter replied, "You know I am your friend."

"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: "Simon, son of John, do you really love me?"

"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I am your friend."

"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.

Once more he asked him, "Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?"

Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time. "Lord, you know my heart; you know I am," he said.

Jesus said, "Then feed my little sheep."

While Peter is our example today of denying Christ, he is also our hope. We read in the 21st Chapter of John, verses 15-17 how the Lord restores Peter. There is no doubt that Peter repented, asked for forgiveness, and we see the Lord forgiving him. In the Book of Acts, we read about the incredible way the Lord used Peter in the early days of the church. The lesson here is that even if you have denied Christ, you are not finished. If you repent, God will forgive you, restore you to fellowship, and use you for His glory.

I love you and care about you so much. At this special time of the year, I pray that if you have been denying the Lord, that you will repent and ask Him to forgive you. He loves you and will forgive you just like He did Peter. He has promised to forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9. He has a perfect plan and purpose for you. I pray today that if you have denied the Lord, that you will follow the example of Peter and allow Jesus to restore you to His fellowship. GOD STILL HAS MUCH FOR YOU TO DO IN YOUR LIFE! DON'T DENY HIM... LIVE FOR HIM!!!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via audio each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/DailyDevotionalAudio.html. Click on "Search by Category", then locate DAILY DEVOTIONAL. I want to thank Ed Morando for making this service available for FREE to Liveprayer.com.

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