Lenten Devotional: March 18, 2026
- St Pete First
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
by Sheri Longshore
Peter denies Christ three times before the rooster crows.
If I’m honest, when I hear Peter’s story of denying Christ, in my heart I’m a little judgy. I mean, Peter, he’s bigger than life. He was RIGHT THERE with Jesus. He saw all the miracles, heard the gospel straight from the source. How could he deny knowing Christ!?
I suppose to be fair, most of us don’t have to deal with a situation quite like Peter’s. We aren’t going to be arrested or thrown into prison for acknowledging Jesus—we may suffer some verbal ridicule or social alienation at best. So perhaps Peter’s struggle isn’t one we can connect with directly in the world we live in here in 21st century America.
And yet, I wonder. Maybe I don’t face the same challenges that Peter faced before the rooster crowed. But are there other ways, ways I’m not really paying attention to, ways that I am denying Christ?
Am I denying Christ…
When I look at people who don’t look/act/believe the way I do and choose to forget they are also made in God’s image and fiercely loved by Jesus, just as I am?
When I choose to only give Christ my time and attention on Sundays and get too busy and distracted to prioritize Him the rest of the week?
When I allow my Christianity to make me self-righteous rather than humble?
When I expect my faith walk to be only comfortable and blessed, doubting God’s goodness when things happen I don’t understand?
When I look away from the crucifixion and Christ’s suffering because it makes me too uncomfortable?
Aren’t I denying Christ way more regularly than Peter ever did?
I think if we are honest, we all deny Christ, in big and small ways.
The beautiful part of Peter’s story, and of ours, if we allow it, is Peter’s redemption. He denied Christ, yes, but from that experience he became the Rock that God used to build the church. His heart was cracked open by his denial and then God used him in a mighty way.
We all have the same option Peter had: to allow our hearts to be broken open by our choices that deny Christ instead of brushing them aside. To allow Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to redeem us in spite of all the ways we deny Him. And God used Peter, so what might He do with our broken-open hearts?