Have you ever run into someone, called them by name, only to realize that this is a complete stranger? You have the wrong person! For me – even if I do have the right person, it’s possible that for the life of me – I can’t remember their name! The older that I get, the more this happens. I see someone and have to ask – “Do I know you?” Something similar happened to my favorite apostle, Peter.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He had foretold that before the cock crowed twice, Peter would betray Him three times. Peter couldn’t believe his ears – he vehemently spoke saying, “If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise; Likewise, also said they all” (Mark 14:31). Peter couldn’t imagine denying the Lord, and he rallied the others to agree. Yet, we know that when Jesus was led away for trial, Peter followed afar off (Luke 22:54). He sat down by the fire in the midst of the courtyard when a maid earnestly looked at him and declared, “This man was also with Him.” Peter denied Him, saying, “Woman, I know Him not” (Luke 22:56-57). A little while longer, another saw him and said, “Thou are also of them. And Peter said, “Man, I am not” (Luke 22:58). An hour later another person confidently affirmed, saying, “Of a truth, this fellow also was with Him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, “Man, I know not what thou sayest.” And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter” (Luke 22:59-61a). While Peter could deny that he was who others thought he was – to the world, He knew that Jesus knew what he had done. Can you imagine his shame? The Bible says that “Peter remembered the Word of the Lord, how He had said unto Him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).
Even when we think no one is watching. Even when we think that no one knows who we are, therefore, it doesn’t matter what we say or do – we must remember to look up. God, not only knows our actions, He also knows our hearts. Men may mistake one person for another, but God knows “the number of hairs on our heads” (Luke 12:7). May we live our lives glorifying God in word and deed. Simply blessed, Courtney
VERY GOOD