SHARING BREAD
31 Then Jesus told them, “This
very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Matt
26:31-35 (NIV)
Ah, isn’t it so true that those who are the most confident
in themselves, in their own strength and stability often fall the soonest and the
foulest? When we say such things
as: “I would never do” such and such -
beware believer - as we are setting ourselves up for just such as that. We are the least safe when we are the most arrogant
in our own abilities and feel smug and self-assured. God has a way of kicking the props out of our
false security. He is the only One on
whom we can rely. Every temptation can
be met and endured if we depend upon God Who is forever faithful and Who always
provides us with a door of escape when tempted.
It is no wonder Paul admonishes us in 1 Corinthians:
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful
that you don't fall! 13 No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he
will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:12-13 (NIV)
"Always
remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where
anyone may go back." Oswald Chambers
“Confidence
in the natural world is self-reliance; in the spiritual world it is
God-reliance.” Oswald Chambers
Proverbs also tells us that pride leads to disgrace yet
humility leads to wisdom:
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with
humility comes wisdom. Prov 11:2 (NIV)
God also hates pride as it always sets us up for a fall. Scripture tells us confidence and trust in
ourselves leads to our destruction:
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and
arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Prov 8:13 (NIV)
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before
a fall. Prov 16:18 (NIV)
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but
humility comes before honor. Prov 18:12
(NIV)
I feel pretty sure if Pete were here with us now he would “Amen”
these verses from Proverbs! The Lord Jesus
in our Scripture today was giving His guys a warning of their forthcoming actions
as well as hope of His assured resurrection.
He quotes the prophecy from Zechariah which was about to be fulfilled –
the Shepherd was going to be struck and the sheep scattered yet Peter would
have none of that. Indeed, all the
disciples were clueless to the fact that they would not have the courage to
cling to Christ in His hour of need.
Even they whose hearts are upright can be overtaken in an hour of trial
and temptation. That’s why Jesus tells
them in Gethsemane to watch and pray for the spirit is willing but the flesh is
weak. Jesus again prophesizes that Peter
would disown Him three times – Words Peter could not bear to hear or
believe. Once our feet start to slip it
is hard to recover our standing again.
“Life isn’t about controlling things – but about letting God control you.” Ann Voskamp
Surely, we can all relate to Pete. This serves as a heads-up for us as well. We are to be watchful and prayerful and not
willing to go in our own pathetic power or slight strength.
“Those who know God will be humble. Those who know themselves cannot be proud.” John
Trapp
“What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it
does to us, it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with
God.” Monica Baldwin
What I glean from this:
· When I am
confident in my own abilities, my fall is not far.
· God will
always provide for me a door of escape when tempted.
· I am very capable
of falling. I am to watch and pray – my spirit
willing yet my flesh is weak.
