A man once said “If anyone in this
place is unwilling to take a bullet
for Christ’s sake-Leave now and no
harm will come to you. If you stay and
are found false. You’ve written your own
destiny.”
~
I stood and left like so many other
scared people in this position. Afraid
of what might happen if I stayed. Afraid
of what other people might think of me
following one who many claim never existed.
~
So many people are “Sunday Christians”
Live wild and free six days a week
On Sunday they sit in the pews at church
and act as though they are a true follower
of Christ.
If you were to ask any of them alone if they
would deny Christ- They’d say no.
~
I wonder how Peter must have felt
Following Jesus throughout his ministry.
Saying that he was the Christ and loving him
When Jesus was arrested Peter deserted and
then followed them into town and saw
the outcome.
~
Christ was comdemned to die
as Scripture foretold. Peter could have
spoken up, but didn’t. He was scared of
what the other people around him thought
About Jesus and his disciples.
~
Peter denied knowing him three times
How hard must that have been for him
To know that he loved Christ But when put
to the test- Denied him just to save his own
skin?
~
I am not worthy to be called a Christian-
I love Christ and I say that I would die for him
Would I really? Would I really be willing to die
because of my unwillingness to Deny God?
I don’t know
~
I was in the mall one day with some friends
Not Christians. I saw a guy that I really liked
Who was the furtherest thing from Christ
He said to everyone who could hear.
“You were at a Bible study Last night!”
~
To spare myself the pain of hearing their laughter
That I knew was going to follow that statement
I looked confused. I put on this big act for them
like an award winning actress.
~
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t
There. You have me confused with some other
girl. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a church.” And
gave a little laugh as though to prove I was telling the
truth.
~
They believed what I said, and everything was fine
once more and I felt as though I was accepted into
their group as though by some miracle I had passed
some unspoken test.
~
We walked a little more, laughing and carrying on
When some people that I had been at the Bible Study
with saw me. They came up to me and hugged me,
chatting about what fun we’d had the night before.
~
A girl who was with us said to me, grabbing my arm
“It’s true. You were at the Bible Study” And I stood
there angry because I could hear and feel the
judgement coming from both sides.
“I Don’t know what you mean. I don’t go to
Bible Studies”
~
I jerked my arm out of her grasp and stood there.
I could feel a little hurt come over me as I denied
knowing him and his name. I was numb to it for
the time being. I didn’t want to lose my new friends-
But I didn’t want to give up God either
And at the same time- I wanted to be accepted
~
A little while later- I was walking and someone
that I’d met the day before said it was good
to run into me.
I had liked talking to him- He didn’t paint a
pretty picture of life like so many others had.
~
We sat there and talked for what seemed
like hours alone together, when the group I’d
been hanging out with, came by. I could see
it in their eyes what they
were about to say.
“You were there last night. Everyone saw you-
Why deny it?”
~
I got so angry and stood up. I didn’t care anymore
I was so sick of defending myself to everyone.
Those who knew me and loved me for me knew
the truth.
Those who didn’t- It was their loss.
~
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
I WASN’T THERE! I DON’T DO THINGS LIKE THAT
I DO MY OWN THING.
I DON’T KNOW THIS JESUS YOU TALK ABOUT
AND I DON’T GO TO BIBLE STUDIES!!”
~
After I said that, I felt this wave of shame come over
me. The clock in the center of the mall had struck 3 o’clock.
I closed my eyes and started to weep as I remembered
what was written in Scripture. ‘Before the rooster crows
you will have denied me three times.”