"Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
Just as Jesus said, Peter denied knowing Him three times before the morning had fully come.
Peter was a man who had walked hand in hand with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, Peter was the very man Jesus chose to be the first member of His Church, yet he so easily denied even knowing Jesus when he thought his mortal life might be threatened.
If denial of Jesus came so easily for Peter, imagine how quickly some of today's Christians would run out on their "faith" if they truly thought their lives depended on it.
I would hope that if my faith was tested, as Peter's was, I would stand up and proudly profess that Jesus is my Lord to the death.
This thought is something we should dwell on every day. Jesus, the human man, withstood an unimaginable amount of torment and eventually gave up His own life so that we could have everlasting life. The very least we can ever do is to courageously stand up for Him in the face of the garbage Satan throws at us today. We should take up His message and deliver it to all whom are willing to listen, every day of our lives.
Just as Peter was challenged about Jesus on the eve of His death, I believe, we, the members of His Church, those of us whom are supposed to represent His message today, are now confronted with His soon and imminent return. So lets out do Peter, lets stand up and proudly testify that we know who Jesus is and prepare everyone who will listen for His glorious and triumphant return.~
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