Living in Denial

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. (Matthew 26:73-74) 
 
Judas betrayed Jesus once, but Simon Peter denied Jesus three times publicly! That statement is not meant to minimize the horrific thing Judas did. He would soon self-implode out of remorse, without repentance.  
 
Simon Peter’s experience was completely different. A long walk behind the soldiers who had arrested Jesus would be Simon Peter’s longest walk. The journey through Gethsemane, down the Kidron Valley and up the steps to the High Priest, Caiaphas’ house would be extremely painful for him. Although he had already used a sword that night to stop the arrest, he was in a different position than he had ever been. Since the day he had left his fishing nets, he had followed Christ and was in the inner circle. Now, we find him close but not very bold. 
 
Have you ever been there? Were you close to taking a stand, but you lacked the boldness to identify with Jesus? Being close is not enough. God desires for us to stand for His Son, no matter what. However, when we are filled with the fear of man, we avoid standing and resisting. Sometimes, like Peter, we verbalize our distance from our Savior. Why would we ever do such a thing? 
 
It is easy to condemn Simon Peter for his betrayal. If we point to Peter, observe where your other fingers are pointed…at you. We don’t find any of the other disciples in the spotlight that night. It was Simon Peter who was front and center. Apparently, he was engaging in the conversation because others not only recognized him from prior ministry days, but they heard his accent and knew that he was from Galilee.  
 
Are there people who know you and recognize that you identify with Jesus, but they are perplexed why you haven’t taken a stand for Him? Today, don’t let the rooster crow while catching you off guard. Be on point, regardless of what fire you are sitting by. Refuse to live in denial any longer. Come out and stand for Jesus!