One Year Bible Reading Guide:

Judges 6:1-40
Luke 22:54-23:12
Psalm 95:1-96:13
Proverbs 14:5-6 

Verse of the day:

About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. (Luke 22:59-60)

It had been three years since I left a very lucrative business to follow a teacher who claimed to be the Anointed One of God. After spending a week in Chicago, I had an awkward dinner with him and a close group of friends. Later that night, we went to Humboldt Park in the West Side of Chicago to pray.

After praying, the Chicago Police arrested my teacher accusing him of treason. I decided to run away. However, I followed them to the court and ended up waiting outside in a warming station. I was so cold and confused.

I was asked a couple of times if I was one of the disciples of the prisoner. I said no. I didn’t want to be accused of treason. I was asked a third time. By now, I was upset and scared for my life. Honestly, my answer was not too polite. Then, the rooster crowed and I remembered my promise – never to abandon or deny my teacher. At that precise time, the police took my teacher out of the court and he looked at me as if he knew exactly what I had done. I cried bitterly.

It is so easy to judge Peter. However, put yourself in his shoes.

We’ve all denied Jesus with our words and behavior. We’ve all chosen to seek our best interest even if it placed us at odds with Jesus. We’ve all cried bitterly when we saw Jesus looking at us knowing exactly what we’ve done.

If today you realize that you have denied Jesus with your words or actions and you feel sad, I encourage you to ask Jesus to forgive you. Confess your sins. Jesus wants to forgive you and restore your life (1 John 1:9). You see, the same Peter who denied Jesus preached on the day of Pentecost. Peter was forgiven and restored, and so can you. There is hope and a future for you if you just ask for forgiveness.