FAMOUS LAST WORDSMark 14:28-30 Peter told Him, " Even if everyone runs away , I will certainly not"!
I assure you , " Jesus said to him , "today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times"!
If you look up the Greek word skandalizein (all of you will run away) it literally means "to stumble.
Peter and all of his good intentions, were in his mind going to happen ,but what is in your heart is what your actions going to be. You see Jesus knew Peters heart and though he really thought he was going to be the only one going with Jesus , Jesus knew his heart. Peter never knew what happened his head said I will go but his heart said I'm afraid. When we say we are going to do something and don't , then it was just a thought(a good intention). That is why it is so important for us to examine our hearts. God is going to judge or hearts because out of them flow the real issues of life. When we say we are going to do something do we really think about what our lips just said or do we just throw words around to
try an impress the one who is sitting in front of us? Sometimes we just want to impress the person we are talking too and our heart is not even in it,also rejection is another reason why we say we are going to do somethng and we don't. But fear is the main reason why we don't keep or promises. I had a situation happen to me awhile back and I really meant what I said at the time, but instead of examining my heart I just opened my mouth and out came the words similar to Peter's words, in that instance I was headed to California and my heart was saying what did I get myself in to now. I had become very afraid of leaving my home my family and my life as I knew it. At the time of my commitment it was really what I meant but when it came time to fulfill it I was kicking myself for what I had committed to. God tells us to examine our hearts and not to make any hasty promises or vows without first making sure you are going to keep them. I like Peter thought I was going to fulfil my promise but God knew my heart. So the next time you say you are going to do something check your heart first and ask yourself the question, Lord what is my heart intent on this,(God is the only one who knows our true heart intent ), are we trying to impress or are we really going to do it. When we get to heaven we are going to be rewarded for the things we have done here and God is going to try them with fire , What is your pile of rewards going to look like a bunch of hay and stubble or will you get gold. The choice is yours, what you have done and said will be judged by the only one who has a right to judge God.
As we travel through this life and run through the hills and through the valleys, We find all to often that we cannot do all the things that we want to do, alone. We find that asking God for strength to help us fulfill our commitments (Because He alone knows our heart) Is the only way we can make it through. For He alone is our strength and our very present help in our time of trouble.
ReplyDeleteWe can try all we want to physically do what we have set out to do, But God alone is at the healm and He is the one that is supposed to be driving the vehicle. We just need to not lean to our own understanding and lean on Him. All the preaching in the world and reading of His Word does not make us do what is right before His eyes. It's your works that line up with your faith that He will carry you through according to His tender mercy and Grace that will help you battle that old flesh.
"The Spirit is willing" But the flesh constantly battles with the Spirit man. That's why Paul said, "I crucify the flesh daily"