Convicted by the Cock-a-Doodle-Do
"I would never!"
"Yes, you will---you all will."
"Well the others might, but not me, I'd die first."
"Funny you mention dying, the very possibility of death will make you do it three times."
"Not me---I am not like that"
"Yes,----- you are and it will happen today before the rooster crows."
(Chaos, crowing and crying)
Don't you know that for the rest of his life, everytime he heard the rooster crow, his heart hurt and he hung his head? Don't you know that from that moment on, he had a better understanding of the cost of discipleship? Don't you know that that one look from Messiah, heralded by the rooster's crow, haunted him until he died?
We are all very much like Peter. We are people of conviction, people who believe Jesus really is the Son of God, the Giver of Life Eternal, the Promised Healer, the Savior of the World. We believe that He is our only hope. We have manifested our faith in obedient baptism and a walk in the light. We made a commitment to own Him as our Savior, to recognize Him as our Lord and to proclaim His message until we die.
And then, we act in a way that says, "I don't know Him"---"Jesus who?". We laugh at inappropriate jokes, we rationalize our behaviors with "That's just how I am". We say we are tired or have a headache in order to justify treating others poorly. We fill our lives with everything worldly and give Jesus the leftovers----leftover time, leftover thoughts, leftover money, leftover attention, leftover heart. Like Peter, we say, "I am not like that" ---oh yes we are. Like Peter, we say, "the others might but not me"----yes, me too. Like Peter we say, "I would die first" ---if only that were true. Like Peter, I think we mean those things. But perhaps, like Peter, we need a rooster. Perhaps a good rooster's crow once in awhile would change the way we do busines, would change the way we love, would change the way we live.
Perhaps we could then remember the cost of discipleship, remember our mission and look forward to sharing the message. Perhaps a cockadoodledo is what it will take to truly convict us.
Peace
Neva
(The story is paraphrased---read it in the Word---Matthew 26)
"Yes, you will---you all will."
"Well the others might, but not me, I'd die first."
"Funny you mention dying, the very possibility of death will make you do it three times."
"Not me---I am not like that"
"Yes,----- you are and it will happen today before the rooster crows."
(Chaos, crowing and crying)
Don't you know that for the rest of his life, everytime he heard the rooster crow, his heart hurt and he hung his head? Don't you know that from that moment on, he had a better understanding of the cost of discipleship? Don't you know that that one look from Messiah, heralded by the rooster's crow, haunted him until he died?
We are all very much like Peter. We are people of conviction, people who believe Jesus really is the Son of God, the Giver of Life Eternal, the Promised Healer, the Savior of the World. We believe that He is our only hope. We have manifested our faith in obedient baptism and a walk in the light. We made a commitment to own Him as our Savior, to recognize Him as our Lord and to proclaim His message until we die.
And then, we act in a way that says, "I don't know Him"---"Jesus who?". We laugh at inappropriate jokes, we rationalize our behaviors with "That's just how I am". We say we are tired or have a headache in order to justify treating others poorly. We fill our lives with everything worldly and give Jesus the leftovers----leftover time, leftover thoughts, leftover money, leftover attention, leftover heart. Like Peter, we say, "I am not like that" ---oh yes we are. Like Peter, we say, "the others might but not me"----yes, me too. Like Peter we say, "I would die first" ---if only that were true. Like Peter, I think we mean those things. But perhaps, like Peter, we need a rooster. Perhaps a good rooster's crow once in awhile would change the way we do busines, would change the way we love, would change the way we live.
Perhaps we could then remember the cost of discipleship, remember our mission and look forward to sharing the message. Perhaps a cockadoodledo is what it will take to truly convict us.
Peace
Neva
(The story is paraphrased---read it in the Word---Matthew 26)
posted by Neva | 6:29 AM
20 Comments:
You are so right in your post today! We can think we are not like Peter but in our heart we know we are. My prayer is to be stronger in the Lord today. Thank you for this great post and reminder to always be in the Word so my faith can grow stronger.
Good thoughts, Neva. We all from time to time have to think about what our actions are saying about our commitment to Jesus. I'm guilty of denying Him!!!
I will never be too hard on Peter. I'm too concerned that I'd have done the same or worse.
Love the paraphrase!
I like the paraphrase too--I am a Peter and I feel guilty when my actions deny him, too.
Good thoughts, sister
Dan
You should post on the word convicted, sometime. I would be anxious to read what you come up with.
Jean
God seems to have a way to bring me back to my senses each time I deny him. He sends some sort of rooster to crow in my life. I am grateful for rhat
I like your thougths hers
Carlos
Does it sound too wierd to say I like it when you step on my toes?
Lyndsay
I stand convicted my sister and my friend,
thank you
Dean
I dont want to be like Peter but I am. I try to learn from every mistake. Thank you for your help
Jeneane
Good post--we need to be careful what our life saya about our beliefs.
Rachel
Chaos, Crowing and Crying----
Clever. :)
Anonymous
That is funny!!
Karli
Neva,
Our preacher spoke about this just Sunday. Its preety cool that you wrote about it this week, too.
We are doing good. The church is really good to us. They treat us like we have been here forever and we feel like that too. it is like the something that was missing just isnt anymore. We are still studying with Spence and learnign so much. There is another couple here tht have made friends with us. We see them a few times aweek and our oldest kids go to the same school. Doug and Gina are really wonderful. I think you would like them. I told Gina about your blog and I think she has started reading it too.
I wont ever be able to tell you how glad I am to have found you and that you helped me find God. I cant ever pay you back for what you did for me.
Love
Kara
Kara,
I am so happy to hear from you. I am thrilled to hear how well you are doing. I have been praying for you.
Gina is welcome here anytime, just as you are.
There is no need to pay me back--at one time, someone taught me the gospel too. You just share it with people in your world and someday, we will all meet in heaven.
Your comments thrill my soul.
Peace
Neva
I too have denied Jesus as Peter did. Yes, I need that rooster to get my attention when I deny Him. I think that we can see from Peter a change though. Satan likes to remind us of of failures. But, after Jesus called Peter again, Peter looked forward. I hope he didn't listen to the devil's lies. Too many times I am reminded of my failings. God forgives and forgets. I tend to not hear that second part.
James
Kara,
You are our rooster. You symbolize that we should always proclaim our love for Jesus so that others can come to love Him too. I love the updates.
Kathy
Good post Neva (or should we have put this at the front so you don't see your name and get confused)
Kathy and I were talking after we sent those comments. I said to her, I hope when Peter saw a rooster he didn't think of denying Jesus. We are so hard on ourselves in that way. There is a time to mourn and a time to get up and dance in the light. I hope when he saw a rooster he thougth of the early morning when Jesus restored him.
James
How right you are. I have been guilty on many occasions. Thanks for reminding me that I need to be on guard and stay planted in the Word and in my commitment to Him.
James,
I hope Peter didn't feel bad everytime he saw a rooster too. But I think just as we are like him, he is like us. I think I would--maybe not feel bad, but I would remember---It would be like seeing a flame and remembering a burn. I would definitely remember.
Thanks for commenting
n
Neva -You write in away that makes the Word real in my life -- it calls me to see myself as I really am and to see the wonder of being seen that way by Jesus but still I am loved and forgiven -- as I fix my eyes on Him through faith and then by Grace God sees His perfect Son --not me.
God Bless
Charlie
P.S. Thanks for comingby for a visit the other day -- Sorry I haven't been "home" much.
Yes, you are right. We are all Peter some times.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home