Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” - Matthew 26:34 (NASB)
There was plotting behind the scenes by the chief priests and elders to covertly arrest Jesus and kill Him. Meanwhile, Jesus was having a heart to heart with His disciples to let them know of His impending death and resurrection. Jesus knew He would be betrayed by Judas and that His disciples would scatter as He was “arrested.” Peter took matters into his own hands and struck the slave of the high priest as they were coming to take Jesus away. (John 18:10)
Jesus was taken to face an illegal trial while Peter followed behind at a distance (Verse 57). Peter awaited in the courtyard, and just as Jesus revealed, Peter denied Jesus three times before he heard the rooster crow. Peter remembered the words of Jesus and wept.
Someone that I looked up to and admired for their courage aimed at fighting against the same type of covert, illegal, and devious accusers, recently switched to the side of the accusers which shocked many. My heart sank with this news, then God reminded me of Peter and the disciples, and I felt the undeniable Spirit of God ask, “What would you do?” “Would you go to prison, would you defend yourself when wrongly accused, would you risk losing your daughter if it meant fighting for truth?”
Amid this disappointment, I feel quick to judge the actions of the person I thought of as a great model for truth. However, I don’t have all the facts, only what I see. With that, Jesus reminded me that God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance and God looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
This makes me wonder what circumstances will come before the rooster crows that cause a crisis in our faith to deny Christ and His power? (2 Timothy 3:5)
Heavenly Father, thank You that You search our hearts and teach us that we must trust You with all the circumstances in our lives, even when it appears that evil is taking us out one-by-one to doubt You. Thank You that You help us remember Your words and strengthen our faith.
This devotion by author, Terrie Miles, is exclusively and solely shared with permission to New Beginnings Church. Any unauthorized printed reproduction, sharing or use of this material is prohibited.
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