Thursday, July 16, 2009
You Will Deny Me Three Times
Peter replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death" (Luke 22:33). Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me" (verse 34).
As Christian moms, we are called to live differently. We are called to represent our faith in Christ. That means, if someone is in need, we should try to lend a hand. We should apologize and be the bigger person in a difficult situation. If a fellow mom is having a difficult time with her kids or in her marriage, we should offer to pray with her.
Sometimes, we just don't feel up to it. We feel tired and worn out, like "Let someone else love that person today." Even the disciples fell asleep on Jesus after he returned from His time in prayer. Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends and he denied him three times. What's the big deal if we do the same thing?
"A servant girl saw (Peter) seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know him,' he said" (verses 56+57).
"A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied" (verse 58).
"About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with (Jesus), for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!'" (verse 60a).
Immediately after Peter's third denial, as predicted, the rooster crowed. "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter..." (verse 61a). What a convicting scene. Peter had been so convinced that he would do anything for Jesus. Then, he would not even admit that he knew Him.
Have there been times in your Christian walk where you have denied Christ? Where you haven't even admitted to others that you know Him?
As moms, we want to show our kids God's love and we long for them to know Him. The best way to model that out is in our own lives on a daily basis. If our kids see us helping a homeless person, they will likely do the same thing when they are older. If they observe us reading our Bibles and praying, they will likely model the behavior. If they hear us accepting our spouse's apology when he is wrong, they will also mirror that difficult task.
Being a mom is tough work and being a Christian can feel exhausting as well. Just remember that you're not alone. Without God's help, I couldn't do either task well. But, I love Paul's reminder, that "I can do everything through (Christ) who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
As Christian moms, we are called to live differently. We are called to represent our faith in Christ. That means, if someone is in need, we should try to lend a hand. We should apologize and be the bigger person in a difficult situation. If a fellow mom is having a difficult time with her kids or in her marriage, we should offer to pray with her.
Sometimes, we just don't feel up to it. We feel tired and worn out, like "Let someone else love that person today." Even the disciples fell asleep on Jesus after he returned from His time in prayer. Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends and he denied him three times. What's the big deal if we do the same thing?
"A servant girl saw (Peter) seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know him,' he said" (verses 56+57).
"A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied" (verse 58).
"About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with (Jesus), for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!'" (verse 60a).
Immediately after Peter's third denial, as predicted, the rooster crowed. "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter..." (verse 61a). What a convicting scene. Peter had been so convinced that he would do anything for Jesus. Then, he would not even admit that he knew Him.
Have there been times in your Christian walk where you have denied Christ? Where you haven't even admitted to others that you know Him?
As moms, we want to show our kids God's love and we long for them to know Him. The best way to model that out is in our own lives on a daily basis. If our kids see us helping a homeless person, they will likely do the same thing when they are older. If they observe us reading our Bibles and praying, they will likely model the behavior. If they hear us accepting our spouse's apology when he is wrong, they will also mirror that difficult task.
Being a mom is tough work and being a Christian can feel exhausting as well. Just remember that you're not alone. Without God's help, I couldn't do either task well. But, I love Paul's reminder, that "I can do everything through (Christ) who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
