Standing and Falling - Repost

 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise.--Mark 14:29-31

To My Sweet Daughters

I so love Jesus.  Even when we have an unrealistic view of ourselves, like Peter does here, Jesus sees and loves us anyway.  Read the verses that come before....


And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP WILL BE SCATTERED.' 


It was obvious here that Peter could have imagined the other disciples stumbling, but not himself!  Beware where you think you stand the Bible tells us...lest you fall!  We know the end of the story.  As Jesus predicted, Peter denied Him three times and the word tells us that when he thought about it, he wept.

Here is what is wonderful about this story.  The Lord knows we are going to fail and He knows it ahead of time.  In fact we know from another account of this same story that Jesus prayed for Peter ahead of time...that his faith would not fail.  He knows all about us.  He knows our past, our present and future sins and loves us anyway!!  He died for us when we were ungodly and His enemy!  We can't disappoint God, girls.  He knows we are dust.  The fact that He sees our hearts, as desperately wicked as they are, is a good thing.  Peter had the right desire but his flesh was weak.  Jesus took that desire...that smoking flax...and did exceedingly abundantly in Peter's life..truly above all that Peter could ask or think.  This burly, arrogant fishermen became a pillar in the early church...strengthening others in their faith...speaking and bringing thousands to Jesus.  I am sure this incident in Peter's life taught Him much about the weakness of His flesh and the glory of God.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  that no flesh should glory in His presence. --1Corinthians 1:27-29

Peter had such an unrealistic view of himself.  Trials show us the reality of our faith.  This is always a good thing because we see our need and cling...and isn't that what is best for us...isn't that what is needed?  My prayer today and every day for each of us is that we would not only trust Him, but would yield ourselves up to Him to receive His life and to let that life work out its results in us.  To live in Him, to Him, for Him and by Him.

Girls, without Jesus, we are withered branches, not good for anything but the fire.  There is no purpose or reason for our existence except that which we find in Him.   May each one of our lives be hidden with Christ in God!!

Love
Mom