27/06/2025
FRIDAY 27TH JUNE, 2025.
SUB-THEME: HINDRANCES TO KNOWING CHRIST.
TOPIC: FEAR.
TEXT: MATTHEW 26:69-75.
69. Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.
70. But he denied it before them all. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said.
71. 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."
72. He denied it again, with an oath: "I don’t know the man!"
73. After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away."
74. Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don’t know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.
75. 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.
TOPIC: FEAR.
MESSAGE:
Fear is a feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat. Today's text presents an emotional moment in the life of Peter. Despite his bold claims of loyalty to Jesus and the willingness to die with him (v. 35), Peter finds himself in a precarious situation. The fear of possible ex*****on, made him deny any association with Jesus - his beloved teacher and friend. This event highlights the frailty of human resolve in the face of adversity.
What will be your response if Boko Haram, bandits, militia, Fulani herdsmen or kidnappers ask for your religious identity?
No doubt, we have our moments of weakness, but we cannot know Christ and experience his power when we let fear dominate us. Put off fear and put on faith.
REFLECTION:
Fear enslaves.
PRAYER:
Lord, deliver me from fear. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH: HEBREWS 12:1.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked ou