2 - misplaced self-confidence
Mark 14:
27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will abandon me.
Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
28 "But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
29 Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I won't."
30 Jesus said to Peter, "I can guarantee this truth:
Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me."
31 But Peter said very strongly,
"Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don't know you."
All the other disciples said the same thing.
(God's Word)
On the night that Jesus was handed over to His enemies, He warned His disciples that they would all face the temptation to abandon Him. Their response tells us that they didn't take Jesus seriously at all.
They did not see this as a faith fight.
They had forgotten the keys of Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
(New Living Bible)
It never pays to ignore the warnings of the Lord and give in to the disciples' kind of destructive self-confidence.
When the Lord warns us that we are about to face something difficult, we need to humble ourselves before Him and ask Him to help us in the time of temptation.
This is a word of comfort and warning Jesus had given the disciples earlier in His ministry:
Matthew 10:
29 What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
32 "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven."
(New Living Translation)
Prayer:
Father, keep me today when I face difficult situations. Help me to depend on You and seek you for how I should handle myself.
Help me to rest all my confidence in You, instead of making foolish assertions about my own abilities.
Thank You Lord Jesus for loving me enough to warn me,
in Jesus' name,
Amen. |
Hope we can get together again tomorrow, God willing.
Meanwhile, have a great day walking with the Lord!
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