Peter and Sin - Distance
We saw yesterday that an older Peter called us to sober and aware lives. If we don't live that way, we end up doing what Peter did that night, and we slip into sin.
Let's read again what happened: "A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know him,' he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed." (Luke 22:56–60 NIV11)
Big Promises
I don't know Him! I am not one of His followers! I don't know what you're talking about, saying I was with Him! From the man who, hours earlier, said: I am ready to die for You.
How often we make big promises to God, and then don't follow through. How often our practice doesn't match our ideals!
Keeping Our Distance
Now perhaps it's true that Peter's biggest mistake was getting separated from Jesus in these moments. We read this: "Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance." (Luke 22:54 NIV11)
Followed at a distance. He didn't keep close. He didn't retain the intimacy. He stayed at a distance.
This is a picture of our lives. It's one of the things Satan most fervently tries to do – to put distance between us and God.
Perhaps we distance ourselves because of fear, like Peter did. If I follow Jesus all the way it will cost me. So I will stay sort of connected but not too close. That's when the enemy has us where he wants us.
Perhaps we distance ourselves because of shame. We're too ashamed to come close to God. Again, that's where the enemy wants us.
Perhaps we just get distracted in our busy lives. The enemy smiles.
Don't let distance grow between you and Jesus.
The Importance of Prayer
It's so easy for this to happen. Because life pulls us away – the things we busy ourselves with, the things we watch, the things we listen to, the things we get caught up in. So often they take our eyes off of Jesus. Before we know it, we've gone this way when He wants us over there with Him.
Distance.
This is why prayer is so important. It's not about reeling off a list of wants and needs in front of God. It's about staying connected! Staying close! We as Christians must develop lifestyles of prayer where we do everything prayerfully, and keep that closeness with Him.
I pray that you and I keep our closeness with God today. Learn from Peter. He kept his distance, and it led him down a bad path.
Peter’s sorrow at his sin pushed him further from Jesus. Instead, he should have run TO Jesus!