Overestimation – Mark 14:29
But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”
Vehement was Peter’s declaration that he would remain with Christ through trial and peril, facing prison, even death, if necessary to remain by His Lord’s side.
Undoubtedly, he believed it, thinking his love for Jesus would embolden him to stand firm even when blinded by the glint of a drawn sword. He was sure he could face danger in Christ’s service, but his cowardly denial of Jesus when imperiled proved him wrong.[1] Can we possibly expect better of ourselves?
If this great apostle crumbled when threatened, we should be cautious about assuming we would handle tribulation more courageously, for we have no assurance that, given the right provocation, we will not retreat in fear. Which of us has not been swinging on a star one moment, to fall into the deepest pit the next? We can go from feeling impervious to spiritual harm, convinced our armor of faith in God will fend off bands of demons and demolish ghastly terrors, to find ourselves looking up from the cavern’s floor struggling to catch a glimpse of Jesus, desperately trying to muster the faith to make it through the day.
Until we have stood firm in our faith as we looked into the eyes of a murderer with a gun to our chest, listened to a heart-wrenching call in the night, received a medical death sentence, or faced some similarly harsh trial, we cannot presume we will be courageous and steadfast when threatened or wounded. Prideful would be our attempt to describe how we would respond in hard, scary circumstances, for even past spiritual heroism in one nightmare provides no guarantee of like courage in the next.
We may imagine we would face threats and trials with bravery and steadfastness, trusting the Lord when every instinct within us screams, “Collapse” or “Flee,” but Peter’s experience should teach us that we can shift our eyes from Christ in a flash and our courage can forsake us when we need it most. Therefore, understanding that boasting about our faith and trusting in our own hearts is foolish,[2] with humility, we should depend on the Lord hour by hour, recognizing our strength comes from Him, not ourselves, for He alone is our sufficiency.[3]
We do well when we walk quietly in faith, boasting not in our lofty
spirituality, but rather spending time with Him, storing His Word in our
hearts, and putting our confidence in Christ Jesus, for in Him and Him alone
will we find faith to stand.[4]
Well pleased, the Father looked upon
The gentle, humble soul
Who ministered in silence
Not once to self extol
Who laid his heart before the Lord
Rejoicing as he served
With willing hands and open purse
Thinking not that he deserved
Recognition, praise, or gratitude
Not acknowledgment that he
Was strong, or brave, or capable
For he could clearly see
In his weakness, he was able
To put himself aside
For pure and holy service
Where in Christ he could abide
When his eyes were fixed on Jesus
When he depended on the Lord
For the air he breathed, the food he ate
Was then his spirit soared
To heights above the heavens
Beyond imagining
Where he received the rich rewards
Of his faithful offering
[1] Luke 22:33-34, 54-62
[2] Proverbs 28:26
[3] 1 Corinthians 10:12
[4] Proverbs 3:26
