⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster ^[a]crows, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶² So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62 NKJV)

I have often tried to imagine Peter’s despair regarding denying Christ three times before His crusification. Just hours before he was telling Christ he would die for him and here he was seeing the risen Christ overcome with regret and overflowing emotion over his actions.

But how often do we deny Christ? Our wanton sin bears our soul bear as we stand daily before Him with regret and overflowing emotion about habitual sin.

We should strive to keep from sinning, however, the human condition means that we will continue to do so in this fallen world. We cannot earn our way by works into heaven, only Christ blood and justification gives believers that right. But we must strive to live as good a life as we can. Striving to be better each day, putting aside our sinful nature and taking up our cross with Christ.

Know that God has more love for us than we have sin. But we must go out and do our best to keep our sin nature in check.

Reflect on: Your effort to keep your sin nature at bay. Ask God for His hand in this, as we are not normally strong enough on our own.