The Denying Disciple

Week 43, Friday

Marilyn Kirkpatrick

 

And seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.’ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” Mark 14:67-68 (nasb)

A couple of years ago, I stood in the very place where tradition has it that Peter denied Christ in Jerusalem. A stone monument is erected there with a rooster on top—marking the spot where this denial took place. I stood there and wept and thought about all that must have gone through Peter’s mind and how he must have felt after he heard the cock crow that fateful night. I have many times wondered if I too would have denied Christ during that time or would I have stood with Him? What about today, do I deny Him now?

Do I deny Him by not giving Him full access to my life—to let Him do His work in and through my life? (See Psalm 119:1-5.)

Do I deny Him by not giving Him my time, not spending time in His Word and with Him in prayer, but instead choosing to run my own life, my own way, according to my own agenda? (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)

Do I deny Him access to my heart where He wants to do a work by changing an attitude or reshaping my thinking? (See Romans 12:2.)

Do I deny Him in the way I think? Do I allow Him and His Word to direct my thoughts and do I take every unholy thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ, or do I allow those thoughts to run and shape my attitudes and then birth into sin in my life? (See 2 Corinthians 10:5.)

Do I deny Him when He convicts my heart of sin? Do I not allow His Holy Spirit to dig into my heart to reveal what is really there, showing me my true motives? Do I allow Him to reshape me into the image of Christ in each of these areas? (See John 16:9,13.)

Do I deny Him in my love for others or live as one who has not experienced His redeeming love and saving grace in my life? Have I forgotten where He found me—in my sin—as I sit in judgment and condemnation of others? (See Ephesians 2:1-7.)

Do I deny Him in the places I go—places I have no business being or where His name is not honored? (See Psalm 1:2.)

Do I deny Him in my witness by not telling others of His wonderful grace and love and the work He has done in my life? (See Romans 10:14-15.)

When I do, I deny Him as Peter did.

Lord, forgive me for the many, many times I deny You in my life. Amen.