Today in my personal study, I read how Peter claimed He would never deny Jesus. He would, in fact, die with Jesus if he had to:
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:30-35)
With the best intentions, each disciple promised the same. And with fearful hearts, each one broke that promise when Jesus was arrested. Peter, however, followed behind to see how it would all turn out, and it didn't end well:
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75) For all of his boasting, Peter showed that when it came down to it, he still very much was in it for himself. Of course, He was redeemed. He preached the very first sermon on the first day of church on the day of Pentecost. The Lord used Peter, and he did, indeed, give his life for Jesus, but only after his faith was fully placed in Jesus.
Sadly, with us it's not much different. with our lips, we make promises and pledges to Jesus, or to something else; everyone has faith in something, and our actions show us where our faith is placed. If we're seeking to preserve our self, as Peter did, our actions are toward self-preservation. Jesus said that if any seeks to preserve his life, he would lose it. We can't preserve ourselves and serve Jesus. It doesn't work. Your actions show what you have faith in. You don't truly have faith in Jesus if your fear rules you. I hate giving the hard truth, but here it is. That being said, there is always hope in Christ Jesus! He restored Peter, He can restore you, but He wants your complete trust! He is worthy of such trust, and in living, or in dying, He faithfully keeps those who trust Him secure.
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