Sin sneaks up on
Peter. Brothers and sisters, let’s take warning from this incident.
To meditate/pray upon
John
18:15-18 ‘Simon Peter and
another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the
high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside
at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back,
spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You aren’t one
of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made
to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.’
John 13:38 ‘Then Jesus answered, “Will you
really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times!”’
James
1:14-15 ‘But each person is
tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then,
after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is
full-grown, gives birth to death.’
Jesus has predicted Peter’s betrayal.
Peter doesn’t see his own treachery sneaking up on him: a friend opens the
door, he sits by the fire, and an unsuspecting moment of fear gives opportunity
to the sinful treachery in his heart.
Temptation and the work of the devil
are guileful. Like any war, the enemy doesn’t come head on. Our downfall comes
in camouflage, pretence; it’s attractive and promises good for us.
Sometimes sin enters our lives like a
bomb – suddenly and unexpectedly. But normally we’ve allowed ourselves to
become relaxed with certain ‘minor’ sins; give ourselves the luxury of thinking about sin if
not doing it – ‘window shopping’ is you like. We develop bad habits over time
that, in the end give way to a more serious moral fall or to passivity and
coldness of heart.
Let’s all be alert to our weakness
and sins’ guile.
You can catch up on all the messages in the
John series at:
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