DON'T DENY THE LORD

MONDAY 10 APRIL 2023

Jesus predicted that His disciples would fall away on account of His sufferings and death, but Peter said to Him, "Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will"… As Jesus tried to convince Peter, he replied, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You." And all the other disciples said the same thing. More below!

Reference: Matthew 26:34 New International Version (NIV) Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

Beloved don't let an evil day cause you to deny or disown the Lord. Don't let your spouse cause you to deny the Lord. Don't let the cares and pressures of this life, negative influences, corruption, trials or challenges cause you to abandon the Lord. Don't let friends or family members cause you to deny the Lord. Don't let your daily commitments cause you to deny Him. In one of the verses of a Psalm described as a Michtam of David, we were informed about a life fully committed to God, and David personally mentioned: "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot" (Psalm 16:5 ESV). Question? Have you truly chosen the Lord as your portion? If you've done that, never look back or deny the Lord. Hebrews 10:38-39 (BSB) says, "But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Why must we get serious about holding on to the Lord? Christ died for our sins; Nobody else in this world and in heaven died for us to be saved. In 1st Corinthians 15:3, Paul the apostle says, "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said" (NLT). Did you notice what is "most important" in life, according to this Scripture? Here it is: Christ died for our sins. This same apostle asked the most important question: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35 KJV). As a Christian, you can answer this question on a personal level.

As God's own children, we must come to the accurate understanding that we were miraculously brought out of darkness into God's marvellous light. We have an effectual calling, because we've been introduced into light; a light that reveals Christ in us, causing the prince of darkness to flee from us, and the scales of darkness and blindness to fall from our eyes. Got it? The Bible says, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). This Scripture implies that what we were delivered from also entails the blindness and lack of insight into the realities of the Kingdom of God. Now we can understand the message about the glory of Christ. Praise God!

Denying the Lord Jesus and our effectual calling means that you are frustrating and rendering powerless, the grace of God upon your life. Bear in mind that it is by the wonderful grace of God, and His almighty power that we stand. Romans 5:1-2 reads, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God" (NIV).

Now this is the model of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, which apostle Paul laid down for us: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 ESV). May the Lord grant us the grace to live accordingly in Jesus' Name, Amen. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; John 13:38; Matthew 26:75.

Guided Prayer: Father in heaven, I thank you for your grace and mercy which have brought me into sacred union with Christ. I'm duly grateful for the privilege of being yours and knowing you forever. I live to express your nature in me, and to remain faithful to your calling without shrinking back or denying Christ, in Jesus' Name, Amen.