I am comforted in my failings as a disciple when I consider men far greater than I that have struggled with their own commitment to Jesus. Consider Peter’s direct denial of being a disciple. When confronted by people, when fear overcame, when he became uneasy with being identified as a follower of Jesus he denied Him not just once but three times. In Luke’s Gospel we read, “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”” (Luke 22:61, ESV).
From this if I want to be a disciple a follower of Jesus I need to learn these things and work at them every day.
- I should never be comforted by the failings of others. My relationship with Jesus and God is personal and should not be judged by how others relate to Jesus. Peter cared nothing about the other disciples but only about His Lord.
- I have Holy Spirit as my counselor and guide and if I allow Him to work in my life I will be a better disciple of Jesus. After the coming of Holy Spirit at Pentecost Peter still was learning but he never denied the Lord again.
- I am never beyond the sight of God. He sees my every action and He knows my every thought. Even if Peter had never spoken the words Jesus would have known the denial.
- Will I draw near to the Lord today even if the world through ridicule and mocking tries to instill fear in my heart and cause me to deny Jesus. Peter entered the court at the risk of being discovered.
Consider your life today the Lord has turned His eyes on you. What does He see? Will you commit to change the heart issues that would lead you to denying Jesus?
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