PROPER VIEW OF SELF
PROPER VIEW OF SELF
Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. —Mark 14:29-31
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. —Mark 14:72
We need to have a proper view of ourselves. Peter said that “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” Peter either did not know himself very well or he was saying something sincerely that he did not fully comprehend. But still, he, along with the other disciples all said, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” Yes, all of them, not just Peter, told Jesus that they were willing to die with Him and not deny Him.
But then the truth came out about that night Jesus was betrayed and Peter did deny that he even knew Jesus and the rest, except for John, fled. After he denied Jesus, and the rooster crowed as Jesus said, Peter “broke down and wept.” He was not the courageous man he thought he was— not yet… not until after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter’s restoration and Pentecost. Then, indeed, all but John would die for Jesus as they served Him courageously.
Do we have a proper perspective of ourselves? — “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). And don’t compare yourself with what others may be or do— focus on what God is doing in and through your life and encourage others as our Lord leads. Yes, Dear Father, may I do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eQd3K2Fxp4