“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.” But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
-Matthew 26:69-75
Peter’s denial of Jesus is a famous story told throughout all four Gospels. It is a great indication and testimony of not only our fleshly weakness, but of the enormity that Christ has over us. It serves as a reminder that we are but a speck in the shadow of His greatness and perfection. We are reminded that we make mistakes and that no matter how hard we try, we will never live up to Christ and we can never earn our way to Him. Through this we also learn that we are just another Peter, living day in and day out, denying Christ every chance we get. We deny Christ at school, when your “Christian” friends think you are too weird when you want to about Jesus. We deny Christ in our place of employment when we decide not to act on God’s urging to share Christ with a co-worker. That would be too awkward. We deny Christ on the street when we don’t do what we can to help those in need. We deny Christ in our church as we sit comfortable with the way things are without regard for the lost world on the outside.
The truth here is found by answering a simple question. Who do we live for? Are we content with having our own personal relationship with Christ and nothing else? When we lose the desire to share the gospel with the lost, it can only stem from 2 things. Either we have ceased to believe that Hell is real, or we have become ashamed of the very Gospel that saved us. How in the world can we take a gospel message that contains the most selfless act in all of history and turn it into a self serving attitude of “as long as I’m saved and my family is saved, then I’m good?” As Christians, we must believe that Hell is real, otherwise, we wouldn’t make the effort to be saved ourselves, so the problem must lie in the fact that we are ashamed in some way of the gospel. We either are ashamed that we will be made fun of, or that we will be ridiculed, persecuted, or even lose a friend. Whatever the case may be, if we no longer feel the desire to spread the gospel to the over abundance of non-believers, then we have taken a back seat spiritually and allowed this world and all of its sinful ways to win.
I challenge you today, step back and take a look at your life. Are you living ashamed of the gospel? I’m not talking about for your own personal relationship, I am talking about sharing the opportunity for salvation with others. Anybody can ignore these words, say that I am just a over zealous youth pastor who doesn’t understand the reality of life (which by the way I have been called all of those things). But let me assure everyone of this: I am well aware of the reality of life. It is a reality of that contains a real God, a real Savior, a real Heaven, and yes, a real Hell. Don’t be ashamed of who you are in Christ. Don’t be ashamed or doubt what you can do for His Kingdom. Make today the day you take a stand for your King. Make today the day you decide that you are going to stand and share Christ with the abundance of non believers. Make today the day you decide that revival begins with you!!! I leave you with one of my favorite pieces of all time. I hope that it penetrates your heart as it did mine the first time I read it:
I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..” (Romans 1:16)
By Dr. Bob Moorehead
In Christ Alone,
Rev. Bro. Coach
RBC 