Mind Meld of A Different Kind

MARK 14:27-31
On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

“No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.

Truth in the face of self confidence
Don’t we want to build up self confidence? “Believe in yourself,” we teach. Peter believed in himself and Jesus let the air out of his balloon!

We do not ultimately help anyone develop a godly self confidence by soft pedaling their deep rooted flaws. Peter, a bold and verbal man, who often engaged his mouth before adequate self reflection, needed to know that he did not yet have the spiritual wherewithal to stand up under intense pressure.

There is a difference between God telling me that I am going to fail and that I am a failure. To be a strong and fruitful child of God, I need to face the unsettling truths about myself. If the truth undermines my self confidence, then my self confidence was built on the wrong foundation. Peter’s was.

Peter hadn’t yet rooted his self confidence in Jesus. It still rested in his personality. In order to rebuild a healthy self confidence, the old one had to come crashing down. It did. And Jesus rebuilt it after the resurrection. Meanwhile, Peter had to suffer profound humiliation and self doubt.

Father of perfect love, I trust you to know when and how to tear out anything in my life that isn’t healthy. Rebuild every area of my life from the ground up, even, and especially my self confidence. I want your Son to be the only foundation. - Mike Leamon

Misplaced Bravado
In the presence of supporters I can say a lot about my intentions and fearlessness to confront difficult situations. While sitting with friends discussing a sticky situation going on in the church I find it easy to say just how I would stand up to the injustice, or bully, or blatant sin, or whatever or whomever with boldness that defied disobedience. In the actual situation my resolve often becomes shaky and it is much easier to fold than to call.

Perhaps it is like watching tournament poker on TV. When you know what everyone else has in their hand it is easy to be confident going all in with two pair. Peter tries to do just that. Giving up our life when there is no immediate threat to our life is fairly easy. But we shrink from even giving up our reputation, much less our life, when real danger approaches. In the company of friends: bravado. In the presence of danger: back-peddling.

How tiring it must be for God to hear our promises, boasting, and big plans so often and then watch us back away from them at the first hint of ridicule. I can’t help but believe God would much rather have me talk less about my faith in church and talk more about it with my neighbors. Standing strong for Jesus at church is not nearly as impressive as standing strong for Jesus at school, work, with unsaved relatives, friends, or neighbors.

Tower of Refuge and strength, help me to stand strong for you in the everyday moments of life and most importantly to stand strong for you when there is a risk I might lose something by doing so. I admit I cannot do it alone but through your strength I can. - Dan Jones