Saturday August 10th, 2024
« My child, when sinners tempt you, don’t give in »
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!
11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”
15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
In continuation of our enquiry from yesterday into why Peter denied Jesus, let us look more closely at why he even chose to sit with those who were persecuting Jesus.
« But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire »
Peter sat with these people because he wanted the warmth of the fire which they had lit.
Many times, the reason Christians stay in the congregation of the dead and end up denying Jesus is the warmth they get when they sit with them.
The reason some people cannot stop conducting business with partners who make them deny Jesus is that they don’t want to lose certain benefits they get from those partners.
Jesus however, said in Matthew 16:24 AMB
« Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] »
The one who will not deny Jesus must first deny himself or herself.
If you are not willing to deny yourself of certain ‘benefits’ you get when you spend time with unbelievers, you would end up denying Jesus like Peter did.
Nothing is more important than the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for you, so you should never put any benefit above identifying with Him.
Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 10:33NLT
« But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven »
If those ‘benefits’ are more important to you than Jesus Christ, then He will deny you before His Father on the last day and the people you are trying to please will not be there to save you from the pains and agonies of hell.
Application – No benefit is worth you denying Jesus – your Lord and Savior.
Author – Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye; General Overseer of the RCCG
Edited by Naomie Joseph
In need of a PRAYER BOOST ? —— Join SIP (Short Intense Prayers) on Zoom « 816 0248 8978 meeting code 94 06 87 » Monday to Friday 11 AM, 4 PM, 9 PM & 1 AM Eastern standard Canada time – ANFGC HFX
Soul-restoring, mind-recalibrating Praise and Worship sessions – Evangelist Jemps Benoit ; Minister Paola Médi
Life changing Christian stories : Supernatural Stories
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it.
Spread the love of Christ by clicking on the ♥
copingwords@gmail.com
