All tagged Denial
How many times have we denied Jesus? Some of us may have denied him with our mouths by saying we have never known Him, but more likely we do so by allowing our actions to speak for us. Or just maybe, we have denied Him by our silence. It is easy to worship and praise God in the midst of saints, but are we tempted to deny Him while in a group of men and women who do not believe, or who gravitate towards what the world offers?
How valuable do we consider Jesus Christ to be in our lives? Do we pay Him homage by worshiping Him publicly before men of faith, but retreat from Him when the crucifixion crowd gathers? Do we fall back into the old ways that once defined us both outwardly, and inwardly? In short... we may have given Him our words, but have we yielded our hearts to Him?
How many times have we disappointed Jesus, or God our Father? How many times have we felt such remorse that it drove us to our prayer closets in deep contrition, and how many of us cry tears of remorse? Peter wept when he realized that not only had he denied Christ, but that Jesus knew this was going to happen even as he was pledging his love and dedication... so great is the love of Jesus for us that he loves us while we are yet sinners, and can see our coming tears, even hearing our contrition as an echo.
Have you ever received a divine healing, or perhaps known someone who did? When this occurred did you praise and glorify God? If not, why? Have you heard tell of people who were miraculously healed, and yet you were skeptical, or doubted they were ever sick in the first place? If so, then why? In our modern society, we are reluctant to acknowledge God when healings occur... why is this so? It is because our faith is under attack by unbelievers and we have succumb to their influence. It is Fear in some form.
We hear the story of Peter denying Jesus three times before the cock crowed, and we think to ourselves that this man was weak of character, but do we ever look at our own lives and count our own denials? Denying can be blatant like in the case of Peter, or it can be subtle. Do you speak up when the subject of faith comes up in a group, or do you deny Him in your silence? When you are at a social event and someone belittles Jesus do you defend Him or walk away... denying Him? How about the witness you didn’t give someone when the opportunity arose, and you were afraid? Denial comes in many forms, can we overcome it?
Do you attempt to hide who you are from God by covering yourself in some fashion? Do you pretend to be spiritually in control when in fact you are anything but? Are your sins hidden within you where you feel they are safe from God’s eyes? Who do you fool, but yourself? Lay your iniquities before you and seek God’s help in dealing with them, because He has known them all along... even in the recesses of your heart.
God works in us each day. He brings us to the doorstep of His will, and then perfects us as our efforts join with His in accomplishing it. However, none of this achievement is possible without His efforts in us, and none is possible by our own doing. So when His will is done, in some manner, how do you respond to others when they acknowledge it in gratitude or amazement?