DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SELF-CONFIDENCE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SELF-CONFIDENCE

"Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night'…. 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 14:27a, 29-31)

Easter is just three weeks away as we come to these final chapters of the Book of Mark that describe the last few hours of Jesus' earthly life.

Probably most of us are aware how this turned out for Peter. It was just as Jesus said. When push came to shove, the disciples all deserted Jesus during His arrest and trial – even Peter who was so strong in his proclamation of dedication to the Lord Jesus. It is easy to declare our faith when things are easy, but not so easy when the chips are down.

But the issue before us is where we place our confidence. Peter was a strong person. That is evident from the Scriptures. He was a fisherman and you have to be strong to be a career fisherman. Self-confidence is not necessarily a bad character trait. Many of the benefits we enjoy in this life we have because of self-confident people.

But when it comes to spiritual things, it is not such a good thing because we end up trusting ourselves rather than God. Notice how many times Peter used the pronoun "I." I will not stumble. I will not deny You even if I have to die.

Scripture is full of admonitions to trust in the Lord. Psalm 118:8 declares, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." That includes me and my own abilities. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put my confidence in myself. He is my strength. Let this be my song: "I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust" (Psalm 18:1-2). "Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:8).

Jesus never fails. I may stumble and fall, but Jesus never fails.

Love, Dad