How To Stand Your Ground. Part [10] 12/05/2023 (Evening thought)

Matthew 26: 69 Now Peter sat outside in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, you also were with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

This first assault shook Peter out of his comfort zone initially, but he had time to regroup, if he so chose. But once, having set his feet in a downward path by avoiding shame for Christ’s name, it is only a matter of time before the devil will open fire again. This second time around the maid will not make the heckling accusation in any quiet manner, between herself and Peter; instead, the devil gives her a bull horn to ask the disturbing question, over the public address system.

[The Desire Of Ages pp 710] as the light flashed upon Peter's face, the woman who kept the door cast a searching glance upon him. She had noticed that he came in with John, she marked the look of dejection on his face, and thought that he might be a disciple of Jesus. She was one of the servants of Caiaphas’ household, and was curious to know. She said to Peter, “Art not thou also one of this Man's disciples?”

Peter was startled and confused; the eyes of the company instantly fastened upon him. He pretended not to understand her; but she was persistent, and said to those around her that this man was with Jesus. Peter felt compelled to answer, and said angrily, “Woman, I know Him not.” This was the first denial, and immediately the cock crew. O Peter, so soon ashamed of thy Master! so soon to deny thy Lord!

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

How To Stand Your Ground. Part [9] 12/04/2023 (Morning thought)

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

After folks decide not to associate themselves too closely with the gospel or with Christ’s kingdom, because the truth has become very unpopular, the very next step is to go in, and sit with the mob, just like Peter did, so as to hide one’s convictions under the proverbial bushel, lest the truth in the matters be known. And satan observes all this.

Therefore, by sitting in the seat of the scornful, one places himself on satan’s enchanted ground, and he will certainly buckle under pressure, when the heat of the furnace is turned up several notches, because all of the preliminary steps in denying Christ and the gospel have already been taken.

In other words, the Christian who only follows Jesus when it is convenient and pleasant to do so, will not be able to stand his ground in times of real peril, for a pattern of choosing the path of least resistance is established, and unless there is a radical change in one’s mode of thought and action, the observations made by satan will bear fruit in denial of Christ.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!