From denying Christ to denying self

December 13, 2018 – The story of Peter touches us all in a way because, by our sin, we, too, have betrayed our Savior. We tend to justify our action or inaction rather than deal with the truth of our rebellion. Today, as I read Peter’s story, I see clearly that I am him. I am there, watching Jesus suffer on my behalf and still, I give in to weakness. Is it weakness or rather is it defiance? God help me find true repentance that I may never again give in to the strength of willful disobedience.

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What stands out to me most about how we have learned to deal with sin is that we often see ourselves as the victim of our enemy. I’m not saying that we use the old cliché, “The devil made me do it!” Rather, we tend to downplay the role that our personal desire for self-gratification or self-preservation has in our failure. Now, before I go any further, let me say, today isn’t a day to beat ourselves up, but rather to take responsibility and control of the decisions we make. Sometimes we just have to own it in order to then be able to change it.

For too many years, I allowed myself to be a passive “sinner saved by grace.” Not that there is anything wrong with that phrase, but it sure leaves me with a negative outlook on life. Well, to that I say, “NO!” Through the blood of Jesus, I can choose a different path of self-denial rather than continual Christ-denial. By no means am I saying that I stand in my own strength, but I am saying that I can take hold of the new identity and position I have in the Kingdom of God, through the work of Jesus. He calls me his friend.

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