Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Deny.
Peter – the disciple who denied the Lord three times.
He was the one leaping out of the boat to walk towards Jesus as well. Some call him impetuous. I have seen him as one who acts before having a plan. One whose mouth spurts before thinking.
Peter often makes me wonder if there is not a little of Peter in all of us, in me.
What would my reaction have been that day if I was questioned? I’d like to say I would never have denied Jesus, but then … Peter also thought the same.
The word prompt brought one verse to mind, which I read before writing:
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
(2 Timothy 2:10-13, NASB)
I also see Peter as a man of deep emotions. He felt remorse immediately. He was the one Jesus compassionately restored and included on the beach after the resurrection.
Jesus, the One who gave His life, His all so that we could live.
May we endure so we will also reign with Him.
Photo by Dušan veverkolog on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
Joanne, I am right there with you today. I just posted my writing and then read yours. Thank you for expressing what I was feeling so beautifully. I am so glad my hope is in Jesus’ faithfulness and not in mine! May we also endure, amen!
May you and your family have a most blessed Easter!
Peter seems to be a man full of emotions, Joanne, and highly volatile. I too wonder if I would deny Him, be silent, or proclaim Him confidently if put in a similar situation as the disciples. I just turn these thoughts into a prayer of surrender, adoration, and a request for strength no to deny Him. May you and your family have a wonderful Easter, Joanne!
It is good for us to wrestle the question as it causes us to realize how much we truly need Jesus for our faith to hold firm. May you and your family have a blessed Easter!
I don’t look before I leap;
I am a simple man,
more a goat than docile sheep,
a beast without a plan.
I think perhaps that God loves me,
keeps me in protective bubble
for He alone can truly see
I’m always in and out of trouble.
This morning tried to be good,
and keep world safe from harm,
but with a sound like snapping wood
I went and broke my arm,
but no matter, I don’t mind,
for there is mischief yet to find.
I am grateful that God gives us room to ask for forgiveness even when we might deny Him. I, too, especially during these times of Resurrection, have asked that question about whether or not I would deny Him. Sometimes, I believe I would and at other times, I think not. During this precious season on our earthly calendars, I see so many scatter as He hangs upon that torturous Cross, but there are many who stay. I pray that and when such a time comes for me to see the threats upon me, that I will choose Jesus. He is the One Who went to that Cross for me.
Thanks for giving me food for thought this morning.
Linda, the pondering is good for us as we come to lean on Jesus even more. I cannot help but believe that Jesus would provide all the strength for us to endure and be faithful. May you have a blessed Easter!
I had to click on the photo of the rooster because I used the same photo in my post…and I wrote about Peter ;). I find myself in the same impetuous situations Peter gets into (maybe that’s why I chose WAIT as my word of the year….). We’re going to have to meet in real life one of these days, Joanne!
Anita, I read your post and it moved me to tears. I am so grateful for each one included in Scripture for they truly teach us so much. And yes, to be able to meet would be such a gift. May you and yours have a most blessed Easter!
Peter is such a good example of Christ’s love, grace & mercy!
He truly is and he brings many a lesson for us to learn. May you have a blessed Easter, Barb!
I have always identified with Peter. And like him, I always feel I will never deny my Lord. It’s comforting to know Jesus is praying for us that our faith will not fail!
Amen, it is in this we take comfort >>>> ” Jesus is praying for us that our faith will not fail!” May you have a blessed Easter, Jerralea!
Yes, there is more than a little Peter in me, acts before thinking, speaks before putting brain in gear, impulsive, impetuous, yet I too have been compassionately restored (love that phrase!)
Just stopped by from FMF #17
It is in that compassionate restoration that we find peace and comfort. May you have a blessed Easter, Heather!
I am so grateful for forgiveness, and mercies that are new every morning! His great sacrifice sealed the deal. Meditating on the great price of redemption brings so much more depth to the celebration of Sunday. â¤ï¸
Love this.
Thanks for sharing