Denying Jesus

He chose to be mistreated…rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25

“Just say it!” the turban-clad soldier screamed. He rammed the rifle barrel into the ear of a man on his knees. The blood-streaked captive replied, “I can’t. I cannot deny my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for me and I—” An explosion ended the sentence and the captive slumped dead onto the sand. He was just one more of thousands through the centuries who have faced a similar fate. What makes it more compelling is the fact that they, like Moses, chose it.

When Moses walked away from the luxuries of Pharaoh’s palace to identify with his Hebrew brothers and sisters, he forfeited his privileges as Egyptian royalty. Instead of enjoying a full ride at Pharaoh University, he sat around a slave’s campfire and learned about God. He knew God’s purpose for his life would require sacrifice and difficulty, but he chose it anyway. We can do that too. We may not be offered a full ride at Pharaoh University, but the world makes plenty of other offers. It dangles wealth, fame, popularity, or sexuality before us, whispering, “God will understand.” So we surrender. Or we don’t. We are each given a choice, every day, every moment to surrender to something, either sin or God—but never both. We cannot serve both.

Denying Jesus is not always verbal. How might you be denying Him instead of surrendering to Him?

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