Let's listen and think about our own lives. What do we do on a daily basis? We give thought to many things–how we look in public–how to shop for bargains–what to put on the grocery list–what needs done around the house…some things get thought about too much and then those things we should think about are often left in the background of our thoughts. Why do we give so little thought to our souls and our relationship with God. Look at the scripture below and see the underlined portion is verse 72.
Mark: 66-72
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to
mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice,
thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Remember what a bold, outspoken man Peter was. It wasn't ambition; he was just Peter. He was the one who spoke up when Jesus asked him who he was. He boldly stated that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. It was Peter who knelt unworthily at the feet of Jesus as a poor fisherman and Jesus spoke to him and said follow me. Peter was the one who stepped forward to defend Jesus in the garden when he was arrested; he pulled out his sword and cut a man's ear off. He was the one who looked at Jesus at the Last Supper and vowed to follow Jesus to the death. Yes. Peter has a strong character. BUT PETER WAS THE ONE WHO DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES. We must be careful that what we think are our strengths are not in ourselves instead of the Lord.
We live in a fast-paced world; sometimes we are just like Peter–impulsive. We do fast; we act fast; we talk fast. It would pay us all to put on the brakes and give some thought to our daily lives. Are we thankful? Do we pray? Do we read the Bible? We give so much thought to ourselves and going here and there. As we do, are we giving thought to our spiritual life? We feed the natural. When it comes to spiritual, are we doing the same–as we should? We assume a lot. We say it's all right. We'd better not assume anything; we better make sure. We don't assume our bank statements are right or our credit card statements. We look to make sure money is there and the correct amount; we want to know if there are charges due to fraud. Do we have fraud in our spiritual lives? DON'T PRESUME OR ASSUME. GIVE THOUGHT.
Jesus didn't look at Peter and call him a failure. He told him Satan desired to sift his as wheat. Satan desires to do the same to us. Don't assume otherwise. We need to dump our self confidence and assuredness and find out just how pleased God is with us. So, do you give thought to him? While we're making sure other parts of our lives are attended to, do we give the same amount of thought to our soul? Or are we like the man who looked at his barns and said he would take his ease? God called this man a fool and that very night required his soul of him.
Here Peter teaches us some good things even in this awful lesson he learned. We need to give thought to ourselves. Jesus was so concerned that he told Peter he had prayed for him. Still Peter ran from the garden; shortly thereafter he returned to follow Jesus afar off. Do you follow at a distance, not as close as you should. Do you say I know I'm not as close as I should be, but I'm still a Christian? You may soon find yourself in Peter's same shoes. You should give thought to it now. Peter should have, then he would not have denied the Lord.
If our lives are only excuses that are to appease us, we may be further away that we think. Peter followed afar off and warmed himself by the fire. While Jesus shivered in the cold night air, Peter took warmth by a fire, the wrong fire. Now there is nothing wrong with all fires, but some of them we must stay away from. He was too comfortable. How many are too comfortable today only being Christian-like when they want? We don't modify Christianity to suit us; Jesus doesn't change. Christianity is to modify us–make a change in us. Take a look at what fire you are warming up to. Peter had made all his bold statements. I'll follow. I'll follow…yeah, yeah, yeah. Jesus gets tired of that. He knows Satan has us all in the sifter to see what we're made of. Now give thought to it. How do those around you see you? People will see your affiliations. They will entice you; they will feel your out. They will look for the response. The people by the fire knew Peter was not one of them by his accent. They accused him of being a follower of Jesus; the first time he just denied it. The second time he denied it even more. Then the rooster crowed–the first time. Why didn't Peter get it then? Why did that rooster have to crow twice? At that first crow, Peter should have realized what was going on. So what has to happen for God to get your attention? Give thought to your soul! Realize what you are capable of. Don't find yourself saying I'll never….do this….I'll never do that. We need to get off the high horse. WE MAY DO IT. Many a good person has fallen because he started assuming and thinking he wouldn't fall. Get right with God. Are we like Peter? We just don't get it….don't depend on other things to make it right. This altar with Jesus is what is needed. We have to stay on top of ourselves–we must give thought to ourselves. Thinking doesn't hurt us but not thinking does.
The third time Peter was accused of following Jesus he even cursed and swore he didn't know him. People associated with Christ don't do such things…see I'm not one of them. Earlier that night Peter had said I will never, but then he did. It wasn't until the rooster crowed the second time that he got it. That's when he thought about what Jesus told him a few hours before. He then thought on this. It woke him up to how he was behaving and what he was doing. It broke him. When he took a good look and thought about it, he was brought to tears. Then he repented. This changed him. He was the one who ran to the tomb after Mary Magdalene said Jesus was alive. It changed him because he gave thought to himself and let Jesus change him.
Today, give thought to yourself. What are you doing? What are you assuming? Think about it. Give thought to your soul.
Epilogue: What thoughts do–what they did for Peter: 1) called to mind what Jesus said; 2) Showed Peter what he was
doing; 3) Woke him up; 4) Broke him down; 5) Brought him to tears; 6)
led him to repentance; 7) changed him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 