Matthew 26:33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

I’m reminded of the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” We are experts at saying the right things, and even genuinely intending the right things, and then falling flat. We sometimes overlook the record, in verse 35, that all the disciples joined Peter in his protestation of faithfulness, but Jesus already knew what they were actually going to do when push came to shove. As He noted in verse 41, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” That’s why repentance is absolutely essential on an ongoing basis. As Paul noted in Romans 7, we want to do the right things, but all too often fail to do them, or even actively do the wrong things. The amazing thing is not our weakness, but rather that God loves us anyway, and makes forgiveness available to all who will acknowledge their sins and turn to Him. (1 John 1:9) The thing is, we don’t know how we will respond until we are tested. I watched a video just yesterday that talked about how the Chinese military is a very unknown quantity, because hardly any of the personnel have any actual combat experi­ence, and for the few that do, Chinese performance was certainly nothing to be proud of. We don’t know how we will act until bullets are actually flying around us. That’s why God allows trials of various sorts in our lives at rather frequent intervals. Some are so small that we might not even notice them, but overcoming them strengthens us anyway. Some are so big that we don’t see how we will get through them, but as Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) And when we get through those, we are much stronger than we were before them. I keep saying it, but God is not mean; He doesn’t pick on us. Everything He allows in our lives is because of His love.

I remember Sgt. Boney, (I’m not sure of the spelling) a drill instructor I had in Army Basic Training. This was 1970, and he well knew that the majority of us were going to go to the battlefront in Vietnam. He had come back from Nam with one arm and both legs in bandages and/or casts, and he wanted to give us the best possible chance of survival. He seemed merciless, but I could tell that it was all from a genuine desire for our best. I’m sure he never thought he would be an illustration of how God acts toward us! I was told just yesterday that one of the problems with my pastoral ministry is that I haven’t been strict enough with the believers, and that may be true. I know I don’t enjoy exercising discipline, and I have a real aversion to legalism. I may not love the believers enough. However, I remember that Jesus didn’t chew Peter out, He just warned him what would happen. I am not to be accusatory, but I am to be both cautionary and encouraging. When I have stumbled so many times myself, I need to lift people up and not push them down.

Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy toward me. Help me be an accurate conduit of that grace and mercy toward those under my care, that they may be strengthened and guided into the way You want them to go, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!