The Rooster's Crow

There's a story in Mark 14:66-72; it's the story of Peter denying knowing Jesus. Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed twice. Peter rejected this idea, promising Jesus that he would do no such thing. Sure enough, in this story we see Peter denying that he knows Jesus, even to the point of throwing down curses and he swore to those questioning him that he did not know Jesus. After this, he heard the second crow of the rooster and he broke down and wept... 

How often are we like Peter in this story? We read his responses and want to scoff Peter for denying our Savior who had clearly worked miraculous things in his life. Not only was he denying Jesus one time, but also two more times in the same place! I remember hearing this story in church growing up and teachers would point out that one of the people who questioned Peter was a mere servant girl; she didn't seem like too much of a threat to Peter, right?

But ask yourself this: 'How often do I deny Jesus?'. 

When you Google search the definition of "deny" the first definition you get is, "the state of one refusing to admit the truth or existence of (something)". How often do we refuse to admit the truth of Christs's love, of Jesus' character and the sacrifice He made for us? How often do you just sit in silence as those around you subtly bash His very existence? 

Now maybe you've never found yourself in this situation before...let's look at the second definition for "deny"- "to refuse to give or grant (something requested or desired) to (someone)". Have you ever found yourself withholding the Gospel from someone who needed Christ's love? Maybe nobody has specifically asked you to share the love of God in their life, but wouldn't you say that it is something desired by most anyone, whether they realize that's what they're missing out on or not? Perhaps you have known someone who was struggling and was subtly asking for more information, for more truth, and you were so caught up in your own life problems that you didn't take the time to notice or didn't make the effort to share your testimony of how you were able to overcome the difficult things that have come through your life. 

I have a story that portrays a small example of what denying the Lord might look like in my life. 

This past summer I was going for a run on a trail and was playing my worship playlist off of Spotify on my phone. I had forgotten my ear buds that day, so I was just letting the music play through the speakers on my phone. The voices from All Sons and Daughters and Bethel Music were following me along the trail. About a half mile into my run I see an older couple coming towards me so I politely turn down my music...as if it would disturb their nature walk. After about five minutes or so I'm about to pass by a mother and her daughter who are walking their dog; I turn my tunes back down, (it was a particularly intense worship song so I didn't want them to think I was listening to some crazy nonsense). Finally, I'm almost to the end of my workout  and I'm passing by another couple and I pause my music before I jog around them. After this third couple I could practically hear the sound of a rooster crowing three times from the trees as I finish my run. I immediately apologized to God and asked Him to make me more bold in the small things so that I could be bold in the bigger moments- the moments when I need to be fully effective. 

Too often we worry about what others are going to say or we worry that we're not fitting the part that we're trying to portray, when we need to be spending more time being confident in our walks with the Lord and in our testimonies of what He has done for us so that we can boldly lead people to the Savior. 

"But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in Heaven." - Matthew 10:33

The Lord desires for us to walk in the light, He desires and longs for our whole lives to bring glory and honor to Him. Don't deny your Savior today. Don't withhold the love of the Gospel that He wants us to share with unbelievers. . .