Meltdown
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to come humbly before You and to place all my confidence in You alone.
Read Matthew 26:69-75
[69] Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. [70] But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. [71] Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” [73] After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” [74] Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What motivated Peter's actions?Have you noticed that the New Testament is never guilty of fawning over the disciples and painting them in a gilded light? If one were looking for confirmation that the Gospels are historical and not wish-fulfillment on the part of the disciples, today’s passage would be a good place to start. Peter, who is going to be the rock upon which Jesus will build the church, has a spectacular meltdown of faith. He knew full well that he was in danger of denying the Lord–after all, he had been warned by Jesus very clearly (34). And yet here he persistently denies the Lord when questioned by a slave girl (not a person he needed to be afraid of in his Roman culture). In fact, as each opportunity to acknowledge Jesus presents itself, he strengthens the force of his denials rather than speak the truth. He does not seem able to stop himself on the slippery slope of self-preservation. When the cock finally crows Peter is absolutely distraught. The irony is that he was trying to avoid discomfort by denying Christ, but his actions have the opposite effect.
Apply
Think about Christians who courageously communicate their faith at cost. Ask God to help you follow their example.
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to honestly consider my commitment and to choose to lay all before You.
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