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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 16, 2008 Conviction |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, March 16, 2008 by Anne B. Crawford
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 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, for
your accent gives you away."
Then he began to call down curses on himself 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. (Matthew 26:69-75, NIV Bible)
Jesus stands convicted – falsely – while Peter is convicted of his sinfulness as he denies Christ three times. The stark contrast gives me pause. I once heard someone ask the question: “If you went on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” It’s an interesting question. At first blush, my answer would be yes – I have Bibles and other religious books and items in my house, I go to church weekly, I sing in the church choir, heck, I even serve on a church committee! But that’s all just circumstantial evidence. It doesn’t get at the heart of the matter which is what is in my heart and do I believe and live out my belief that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Again, I could point to the fact that I confess this belief each Sunday in the words of the Apostles Creed. But a good lawyer could argue that saying and believing are two different things.
If it is what is in our hearts that matters most and convicts us as Christians, then I think we have to own up (at least I do) to the hard truth that sometimes we can’t be convicted as Christians. Rather than claim Jesus’ power and ownership of our lives, we look for ways to distance ourselves, because getting close to Jesus can be uncomfortable when it exposes our sinfulness and calls us to acknowledge Him in a world that doesn’t understand, or worse, discounts Christianity. We may protest that we stand firm as followers of Jesus, but if we are being honest, we are really more like Peter. When pressed, when it is uncomfortable or dangerous we often get caught up in our fears and deny Him.
As we enter the events of Holy Week consider that we are both people in the crowd shouting “hosanna” on Palm Sunday and Peter, shouting “I don’t know him” on Good Friday. My ‘conviction’ as a Christian isn’t based on my testimony, number of Bibles I own, or any good works that I do. My conviction rests on Christ’s conviction, suffering, death and resurrection. He claims us as His own – even when we deny Him. It is his sacrifice that allows us to call ourselves Christians and His love that forgives us, even when we deny Him.
Lord Jesus, I am selfish and scared to follow you to the cross. Help me to take up my cross daily. When I am weak and turn away from you, remind me again that you love me and guide me back to you so that I may be your disciple and witness in the world. Amen.
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