Have you ever denied Christ? Peter one of Jesus’s disciples did, Jesus’s death was upon him and he told Peter before the cock crows, he would deny him that night three times – Peter was like, Oh no Lord; I would never deny you, but when the soldiers came to apprehend Jesus – a fight broke out and the disciples ran, including Peter – at this point the local villages were in an uproar about Jesus’s capture and were looking for “his disciples” when some people noticed Peter and began to question his identity and claim that he was one of the disciples, Peter whom hours before claimed to love Jesus with all his heart – denied him profusely, so much so that he began to curse and shout “I don’t know the man” when he heard the cock crow, his memory was jogged to the earlier conversation he had with Jesus and began to weep bitterly. The man he walked with, watched do many miracles, befriended and loved was now an unknown to him.

Judas Iscariot’s name also rings very loud in the bible for befriending Christ and later betraying him for 30 pieces of silver, in which he felt so bad about doing it that he ended his own life.

I have denied Christ on many occasions, and sad to say; most of them were in my Christian walk –

When I went around people, depending on their affiliation – It’s easy to become friends and get along with people of the same like mind and spirit – If they were Christian and talked about God freely, so was I but when I surrounded myself by people whom were not of the same like spirit and mind; I found myself conforming to their ways, now they were free to talk about whatever they wanted – but I felt like talking about Christ would pose an issue or an uncomfortable feeling to others, so I would sit and entertain with them.It was even the case with relationships, I felt as though

I couldn’t get a stable relationship if the guy knew and/or thought I was a “JESUS FREAK” so I found myself battling with being totally saved or half and half, but we all know that God doesn’t go for that – as he says in his word; I will not have you lukewarm, but either HOT or COLD (Rev 3:16) – So you’re either all the way in or all the way out…

If someone would have outwardly told me that by doing this, I was actually denying Christ – I would have denied it and made up some lame excuse as to the real reasoning of my actions, “I wasn’t denying Christ?” because in my mind denying Christ would actually mean me saying “I deny him” but we not only can deny him in words, but deeds as well. About 3 months ago, I was exchanging emails with an employee, she was providing some valuable information to me concerning the setting up of an account; I make it a habit of telling everyone I meet “I appreciate you” because I want them to know how much I value their service, expertise, help and any other task they seem kind in helping me with, So I began to tell them I appreciate them and Thanks for their help.

In return they emailed me back and began to tell me how sweet it was of me to tell them that and how they appreciate me for taking on extra duties and that they thought I was doing a good job. Well when someone says that, I know immediately that I am not my own and that it takes the help of God to lead, guide and direct me in my duties at work, so when I emailed her back I said “To God be the Glory” it’s a challenge but I know I’m here for Purpose – I went on to tell her that I hope she didn’t mind me saying that “the mentioning of God’s name” because I wanted to respect her values, but I didn’t want to not acknowledge mine. The message I got after that stunned me –

She went on to say how she didn’t mind the statement at all and that how we don’t give God the credit often enough, she stated that we need to stand up for ourselves as Christians and take a stand for God, she said that she had gotten to the point where she says “thank you Lord” and etc. “So far people have been receptive” she said and began to say that she thinks there are more Christians on campus than we realize and that folks just don’t say anything. Wow I thought, I didn’t know announcing Christ was something that anyone needed to think about or that it was something that everyone avoided like the plague. It’s amazing how other people can talk all day long about their own personal beliefs, likes, dislikes and find a great interest in their own personal world but “US” Christian’s compromise whom we are willing to share Christ with because it’s unpopular and/or we’re afraid of how we’re going to be viewed.

Is the Christ you serve, living under a Rock? – in which you bring out on special occasions or the result of someone else talking about him? True Christians are not afraid to announce Christ “no matter” where they are or “what clique” they are surrounded by. The bible says “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 10:33)

Just think of it this way, the very people we hide Christ from are the very people that are longing to meet him – It may not look like it outwardly, but inwardly they are crying for help and you just may be the person to make the proper introduction, even if they are resistant – when we take on the “blood” stain banner of Christ, we take on everything that comes with it – just as we do in any relationship (If you take on a man or woman in marriage) you are taking on everything that is involved with them, some good, some bad – but it’s the choice you made.

That’s how it rolls with Christ, we take on his death, burial and resurrection – We take on his last name (ex. Joshua Christ) – so therefore we are responsible for letting our light shine, no matter where we are so that others may follow that light to Christ, we are responsible for uplifting his name – the drawing is then left up to him.

Jesus loves you, if he wouldn’t deny us or put us under a rock and take us out on special occasions or only when our name is mentioned – then why do him that way. Christ came so that he may be shared with ALL people and not just the FEW that know him too.

So, What’s your name…