thought for today

I have been doing the Ephesians study by John MacArthur with a friend. I want to share something he wrote out. it can be found on page 58.

"History records that Alexander the Great once discovered a coward in his army, a soldier who happened to also be named 'Alexander.' The legendary leader confronted the man and thundered, 'Renounce your cowardice or renounce your name!'

I love this. We are called by the name of Christ. We are promised that we have not been given a spirit of fear. If we live in fear than we are not living for the name of Christ.

Matt. 26:69-75 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came untohim, saying,

Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. ⁷⁰But hedenied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

⁷¹And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid sawhim, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was alsowith Jesus of Nazareth.

72. And again he denied with an oath, I donot know the man.

73.And after a while came unto him they thatstood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; forthy speech betrayeth thee.

74.Then began he to curse and toswear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cockcrew.

75.And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which saidunto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Andhe went out, and wept bitterly.

When Peter lived in fear it lead to renouncing Christ. How many times has the cock crowed on us? How many times have we denied Christ instead of ourself by denying our fears?

How great God is. Alexander did not want to share his name with a coward and made it known. God did not take his name from Peter. He went on forward and died for Peter not long after that happened. What LOVE!!

I pray that we will remember that when we give into fear we are denying the one who set us free from it. That we would be bold as a lion and speak in truth.