This past week we were informed that another mass shooting took place on a school campus. It has become all too prevalent in our nation to see someone take guns and kill people at random. One witness to the shootings stated that the shooter called for Christians to stand up, at which point they were killed first. How many of us would stand up in the face of knowing that identifying our Christianity would cause us to immediately be shot and killed. The fact is, that many did stand up, and many paid the price of injury and death as a result. I must say, that I believe they will be given immediate rewards by our Lord for not denying Him at such a time, but in fact giving Him glory by their actions. It is a wonderful thing to live for Christ, however it is even greater when we are willing to die for Christ.

Jesus tells Peter that he will have to experience some difficult times ahead in his life. He had secured from Peter a commitment that Peter loved Him. In fact He asked Peter, 3 times "Do you love Me?" In verses 18 and 19 Jesus outlines what kind of death Peter would experience and how it would "GLORIFY" Jesus. I was moved by that verse. Jesus wants us to glorify Him. The question is, how does our life glorify Him, and how will our death glorify Him.

1. DO WE GLORIFY GOD IN THE WAY THAT WE LIVE?  We glorify God by praising Him.  We glorify God by telling people about His goodness.  We glorify God by honoring His name in the presence of others.

2. DO WE ALLOW GOD TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF DEATH WILL GLORIFY HIM?
We are like the Apostle Paul who stated "to live was Christ, and to die was gain."  Those who claimed to be Christians in the face of death glorified our Lord.  God has authority over life and death.  We trust Him to deliver us in His time.  We glorify Him as we transition in our steadfast faith that His promises of eternal life are awaiting us.

3. WHEN WE FOLLOW CHRIST, WE GLORIFY GOD!  Peter wanted to know about John's future.  Jesus told Peter not to concern himself with what would happen to John.  Peter should just follow the mandates of Christ.  We should do the same.  When we do, we glorify God!