Upping The Verbal Commitment

TITLE: Upping The Verbal Commitment
DATE:  October 24, 2019
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT:  Matthew 26: 69-74 – ESV - Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” 

Do you spend more time worrying about how you look on the outside or the inside?

During World War II, it was customary to save just about everything for the war effort. With the national interests in mind, a junk man asked a very wealthy lady, "Do you have any glass for me? Pickle bottles, beer bottles,......?"

He got no farther, as she shot bolt upright and exclaimed,

"Sir, do I look as though I drank beer?"

He thought a moment and then changed his question. He asked, "Lady, do you have any vinegar bottles for me today?"
In the high priest's courtyard, Peter worried more about his outside than his inside. He worried more about what might happen to his body if he fell into the hands of Jesus’ enemies, than he did about what might happen to his soul if he denied His Redeemer.

You know the story: Peter has been identified as a Galilean, and a probable follower of Jesus.

It  was time for  Peter to decide where he wanted to plant himself.

Sadly, Satan’s temptations to deny Jesus prove to be most effective.

That means when Peter was put in a hotspot, the disciple quickly decided to deny knowing Jesus or anyone like Him  When he kept getting accused , Peter increased  the intensity of his denial,

As Jesus moves closer to the cross; Peter moves farther away from Jesus.

It is a story we have all seen played out time and again. Centuries, circumstances and situations might change but one thing does not: we can’t serve two masters; we can follow the Christ or we can bail.

Now there is one last thing which needs to be shared: if you, like Peter end up making the wrong choice, you should know Jesus lived, died and rose so you can be forgiven.

Forgiven from a three-time denial punctuated by oaths? Yes.

Forgiven for a false kiss and a facetious greeting? That too.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You died to be my Savior. May I live as Your faithful disciple, drinking from the sweet or bitter cup that is given to me.  Be with those who are driven away from You by their fears. Open their eyes so they may see clearly the need to reject the Father of Lies and proclaim You, "Lord of their life." In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html