This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Cross Examined: Were you with him? (LISTEN HERE)
Just the other day someone threw out a name and asked me if I knew them. They mentioned that this person knew me. I had to admit, “I’m sorry I don’t know him.”
Someone was remembering an event and thought that I had been with them. They asked, “You were with us, weren’t you?” My recollection said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you.”
At times there are inconsequential interactions where we deny knowing someone or being with someone.
The interaction Peter had wasn’t a casual conversation. The answer had consequence.
Perhaps it would be similar to a police investigator coming to your home and asking, “We believe you were with John Smith last night at the time of the robbery.” The answer to this would have consequence. If you were with him, you would be arrested as an accomplice. If you weren’t, you would be let go.
So would you claim you knew him and were with him?
I suppose our “honesty” would lead us to admit it, but it sure would be tempting to say, “I don’t know a John Smith” and “I wasn’t with him.”
Once caught in a lie, the denial would get more strong.
As the officer said, “We know you were with him, for the clothes on his accomplice match what you are wearing.” You may be tempted to say, “I swear! I don’t know him. I wasn’t with him.”
This fictitious situation perhaps helps us relate with the pressure Peter felt to answer the accusations of the servant girl and soldier.
The tension was personal safety or admitting connection to the man on trial.
What would you do?
Luke 22:56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The example of Peter lets us know what is possible even for us. We are fully capable of denying our Savior when we perceive a negative consequence if we say we know him or are a follower of him.
So how do we avoid doing the same thing as Peter?
Here are two suggestions
Remember acknowledging the Lord carries more weight than appealing to mankind.
Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Remember that the worst anyone can do to you is give you a ticket to heaven.
Psalm 56: 10-11 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
So stand firm. Stand confidently. It the best thing to know Jesus and be found with him!
Apply: When do you find yourself in situations like Peter. What makes it easier to acknowledge knowing and being with Jesus for you?
Prayer: Lord, keep me unwavering in my conviction of you and confident of blessing of being connected to you. AMEN.