Has anyone ever told you “never say never”? Of course, they have if you’ve lived very long. That’s pretty good advice under most circumstances. I have a few things I think I could get by with this statement such as, I will never like snakes. I think I’m pretty safe on that one. Yet, I have found most of the things I say I will never do I have done. I have a multitude of things I pray I will never do, but I understand that it will be only by God’s grace that I can achieve my “never do’s.”
Peter said he would never deny Christ. He loved Jesus and could see no weakness in his armor that would cause him to deny him. Jesus told Peter he would deny him, not once, but three times before the rooster crowed. This was a thought Peter couldn’t imagine. Peter is the one who cut off the soldier’s ear when they came to arrest Jesus. He had been bold in proclaiming his allegiance to his Master.
Matthew 26:34-35 “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”
Peter had every reason to believe he would not betray Christ. He had been with Jesus and witnessed the miracles. Jesus asked in Matthew 16:13, who do men say that I am, and then in verse 15, he asks, who do you say that I am? Peter answered emphatically, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was fully convinced Jesus was the Messiah. Peter had never refused to do what the Master asked of him. It was Peter who asks in Matthew 18:21, how often he needed to forgive. It was Peter who asks about the withered fig tree in Mark 11:21. It was Peter who asks questions in Luke 12:41, Matthew 19:27, and John 21:20-22. Peter wanted to know all he could about Jesus, and the life to come for the followers of Jesus. Peter was a genuine disciple, there was nothing fake about him. However, he allowed fear to grip him the night Jesus was arrested, and he did the very thing he had vowed to Jesus he would not do, deny Christ three times.
You see, it is not in our strength we can accomplish anything of any value to Christ. It is in His strength. When we take the stand, “not me, I never will do that,” we are acting out of pride, and pride itself is a sin. It is no wonder our “never” becomes “I did.” God’s grace is enough to sustain us through anything, but it is by His grace not our own power. We need to be praying now that we will remain true to God through any circumstance.
Peter never thought he would betray Christ and neither do we, but then it happens. Our betrayals can sound like this in the beginning. “God comes first, we are not going to miss church for outside activities.” Then we sign our children up for sports and we let the coach know we won’t be here when church services are going on. Then the coach says he needs our child, or they will lose, we cave and say, “just this once you can play and miss church.” Or it may be the boss offers you time and a half to work on Sunday. You have declared to him over and over that you won’t work on Sundays. You give in and say, “we could use the extra cash just this once.” We have not only let God down we have damaged our testimony with others. They come to realize we don’t mean we won’t miss church, we just mean the price tag must be bigger.
I have learned to say by God’s grace and His power I will not do certain things. It is Christ within me that allows me to overcome temptation. I must die daily to myself. I have a responsibility to know Christ through prayer and Bible study. The more I know Him the easier it is to allow Him to be in control.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
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