Faithfulness In Our Confession

"Today's Devotion" For July 11, 2005

Read: Matthew 26:31-35; Romans 12:1-3

FAITHFULNESS IN OUR CONFESSION

"But Peter declared, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.'" (Mt. 26:35)

The phrase, "Famous Last Words," has alternately been used to mean the final utterances of famous people and the braggadocious declarations of well-intentioned people who who never followed through on what they said they'd do. The latter case is certainly an appropriate description of the result of sin in the lives of Christians. While declaring one's faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, too often there's a disconnect between our declaration and our actions. James writes that "faith without works is dead, " (James 2:26). Too many times we Christians are guilty of "famous last words" of faith with no follow through in sharing Him with others or living as one of His disciples.

Peter gives us a good example of the "Famous Last Words" phenomenon. Even though Jesus had warned the Twelve that the prophecy of Zechariah (13:7-9) was about to be fulfilled in Gethsemane when they would flee from Him, they all protested vigorously that such wouldn't be the case. Peter was even more strenuous in his protestations that the others. So Jesus responds to Peter's "braggadocia" by noting that before the rooster would crow, he would have denied Jesus three times. Significantly, the three times constitutes a complete denial. There would be no doubt about the absolute nature of Peter's denial. Peter's "famous last words," (or "infamous" if you like) were not words of humility but of self-importance.

All to often, we forget that we're unable to remain faithful to God in our service and our confession of faith unless we put ourselves completely into His hands. That's what Peter forgot. It's our nature to depend upon our knowledge, emotions, common sense and other personal abilities and thinking, even when it comes to our relationship with God, so that we end up ill prepared to withstand temptation which would draw us away from faithfulness to God. When we depend on our own strength when it comes to faith in Christ, any challenge to that faith and our living in it inevitably brings disaster and denial. When we try to stand on our own merits we will fail, just as did Peter. But, when we stand repentant before God, trusting completely in Jesus' sacrifice for us, with true humility acknowledging our need for His love and forgiveness, we will withstand temptation victorious in Him. Jesus doesn't need us to defend Him, just be faithful to Him. He holds us all in the very palm of His hand. In Him, our "famous last words" will be words that resound with His praise and honor before all the world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times that I, like Peter, tend to depend on myself instead of You concerning spiritual things. Remind me that I can't overcome Sin's temptations unless You are with me and Your Word and Spirit are guiding me. Help me to listen to Your Word and hear what You have to say to me that I may be forewarned and forearmed for the temptations to deny You that will come my way. Please lead me to faithfully share Your love with others, so that they may be able to confess You before men and declare Your praises to all the world. Hear my prayer dearest Lord. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @ 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.