Matthew 26v69-75
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter was a close friend of Jesus who had declared he would never deny him. But under pressure, he buckled. Where are we prone to exaggerate the truth or even lie? Are we ashamed of Christ, or are we ready to tell others about him at any opportunity?
Jesus, thank you that you know everything about us, and you love us the same. Forgive me for when I have not been entirely honest with myself or others. Help me to live a life of integrity even when it makes me unpopular. Amen
