This week’s Sunday School lesson focuses on the trial and crucifixion of Christ. After His arrest, the disciple Peter followed Him from afar. When recognized, he denied knowing Jesus three times, as Jesus had earlier predicted. When the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, the disciple remembered his vow to follow Jesus to prison and to death (Luke 22:33), and he “went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62).
Here we have a man, a disciple who loved Christ earnestly and sincerely, and who had already given up so much to follow Him. Why would he then deny the Savior? President Kimball warned us not to judge this man who loved the Lord so much. He reminds us that “Almost immediately Christ elevated him to the highest position in his church and endowed him with the complete keys of that kingdom” (Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, 13 July 1971, 5).
As I listen to stories of the pioneers of the early church who were threatened with death if they did not recant their faith in “Mormonism,” I have often pondered if my courage and testimony would bear me through even the possibility of death. I hope and pray that it would, but until one is in such a situation, we can never truly know how we would respond.
We in the latter days are rarely required to die for our faith. At worst, we might endure teasing, ostracism, or perhaps impediments in our employment. What we are required, instead, is to order our lives in such a way that we live for Him, that we keep His commandments and follow His gospel.
Have you ever denied Christ with your actions? Perhaps you were unwilling to accept a divinely extended calling. Perhaps you neglected your home and visiting teaching – programs that the Savior and the church use to teach us to “be (our) brother’s keeper.” Perhaps you put other priorities before tithing.
Were there ever times you decided not to elaborate on why you don’t shop on Sundays, or why you don’t drink? I’m not talking about when you don’t mention it, but when you consider elaborating and choose not to. You say, “No, I can’t go to the store with you this Sunday,” because you think saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t shop on Sundays” sounds too weird. You may not be fully denying the Savior, but there is, perhaps, an inclination to do so.
Our actions and our words should be Christ-centered, based firmly in the gospel we ought to be living every day. Take a moment of self-reflection and make sure that all you say and do – and don’t say, and don’t do – affirms your faith in Christ.
Related Articles:
Gospel Doctrine: “Whosoever Killeth You…”
RS/EQ: Developing A Friendship With the Savior
General Conference: “Discipleship”