Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Called out by a servant girl...

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." 
Matt 26:69-70

As I read this passage I thought “Oh c’mon Peter!  A few minutes ago you were bragging to Jesus that you would stand with Him to the death, and now a little servant girl says “weren’t you with Jesus?” and you completely fail!”

But suddenly I remembered a day in my own life some 30 years ago. I had just become a Christian, and I was working really hard to stay away from my “old ways.”  But on that day I was driving around, and decided to stop by the house of one of my previous ‘partners in crime”, Rick.  It’s not like I wanted to go there, I just happened to be in the neighborhood, and I thought that since I was already there, it would be fine to just drop in and say “hi.”  You know, see how things were going. Of course I hadn’t seen Rick for a few weeks (being all ‘saved’ now and everything), and of course he wondered where I had been.  I’ll never forget his joking comment, “what’d you do, find Jesus!”  The statement hit me like a brick.  That was exactly what had happened, but the thought of admitting it terrified me.  “Ha” I laughed, “no man, I’ve just been busy!” Whew.  Close call.  Who knows what those guys might’ve thought if I told them the truth!

Funny thing, that day.  I thought I was just stopping by to say “hi”, but the next thing I knew it was 11 pm at night, and I was trashed.  Wow, just like old times. But it wasn’t just like old times.  I was different now.  I was one of God’s kids; I had a new life in me, and that old life didn’t jive with my new life.  At the end of the night I got out of there, and I remember the feelings I had.  I felt just like Peter did that night in the courtyard. I felt like I had totally failed, I had let Jesus down.

Join us Sunday as we look at Matthew 26:69-75, Peter’s denial of Christ, and why it should matter to us.

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay