Tears of Repentance

“Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” 

Matthew 26:74-75

Two disciples and two different reactions. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter, on the other hand, vehemently denied Jesus three times. What was the difference between the two? Peter cried the tears of repentance.

 All men face a crossroads when faced with their sin. We know that Peter goes on to be the rock, the rock upon which Jesus founded the Church. Crying is for men that desire to be used by God in mighty ways. The emotional response, demonstrated by the tears of Peter, reflected his repentant heart. Sorrow is one of the qualities of genuine repentance.

 The emotional response to the impact a man’s actions have to God is the very lesson we learn from Peter. When our sin grieves our heart, that response is the first step toward repentance. As the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.”

DO THIS TODAY: Ask God to move you emotionally in response to your sin.