MEMORY VERSE: And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crew, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75).

At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basle came to a knowledge of the truth. Afraid to make a public confession of Christ, he wrote a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of Thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge Thy sufferings for me. I love Thee! I love Thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his chamber and hid the message there. It was not discovered for more than a hundred years.

About the same time, Martin Luther found the truth as it is in Christ. He said: "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." The world knows what followed.

Sitting in the outer court during the accusation of Jesus, Peter played the coward. He was afraid to own his Lord publicly. What began as simple cowardice ended with cursing and swearing. Backsliding is subtle. One seldom intends to go as far in sin as he ultimately finds himself.

After Peter's third denial, the cock crowed as had been prophesied by Jesus. That bird's clock was synchronized with heaven. Upon hearing him, Peter went out and wept bitterly. Denying Christ had gained him nothing and had robbed him of personal victory.

Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 10:32).

Think about it!