Skip to main content

I Won't Do That

 

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:35 NIV)

The response above is what Peter said after Jesus tells him that he will deny knowing Jesus three times. This happens at the conclusion of the last supper. Just hours before Jesus is arrested and hauled away for by his accusers.  

Sure enough Peter does just as Jesus predicted. Three times he disowns Jesus. He says, "I don't know what you're talking about." Then twice he says,"I don't know the man!"

When I read that, I feel terrible. I can't believe Peter would do such a thing! How could he turn his back on Jesus? How could he disown Jesus? After all, Peter said, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.” Yet he does.

Then I realize this is me, this is you. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior we are saying, “Even if everyone else disowns you, I will not!” Too often our actions don’t support this statement. We still sin. We still make mistakes. We still disown our Savior.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all of sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are all Peter. At times, we say, “I won’t do that.” Then we do exactly what we said we wouldn’t do.  

Peter didn’t stop with his mistake. Nor should we. “Repent, then, and turn to God, do that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...

Do the Work

Sometimes I sit down to write and it just seems like I am trying to write with a pen without ink. There is simply nothing productive coming from the activity. Other times, God just pours it out on me. The ideas flow and the message comes together with ease. More often than not it's the former rather than the latter. It seems God likes to make us work for it. The ones I have to work a bit harder on become the ones I like the most. I think we appreciate the things we have to work for more than the things that come easy. Our LifeGroup recently read about the Miraculous Catch of Fish. You know the story where Peter and his buddies have been out fishing all night and came back to shore completely empty handed. That next morning, Jesus asks them to take him out in the boat. Once out on the water, He has them put the nets back down and they bring in loads and loads of fish. So many fish that two boats almost sank.  I guess Jesus could have just made the fish jump into th...

Anchor House Week 4: Strawberries

This week I had the chance to come through on a promise I made to one of our regular ships. When they were in port last we were hanging out in the break room with the crew. Somehow we got on the subject of strawberries, Florida strawberries of course. I made the bold statement that Florida strawberries were the best. Trish followed up by clarifying that Plant City’s are the best. She had a point that is hard to argue with. In the discussion, I told the seafarer that I would bring them some strawberries next time they were at Port Manatee. Sure enough the next time they were in port I ran to Detweillers, first thing in the morning, and picked up a half of a flat of some of the most beautiful strawberries you've ever seen. They were big, red, perfectly placed in the container in a neat and orderly fashion. They looked magnificent. As we approached the ship, the seafarer whom I had made the promise to waved and said, “You remembered!” After we boarded the ship, we t...