Just do it

Today, I am thinking about the hopeful foolishness that we hear in Peter's voice here.

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."

But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. -Mark 14:27-31

I sort of want that hopefulness. I want to declare before taking a step down the next step of road that I will not stumble, I will not walk off of the path. I will not go against my Lord's commands.

But when I think of this, I soon realize that it is not the promise that matters. It is my actions that matter. Jesus asks,

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

"The first," they answered.

-Matthew 21:28-31

The danger for me as a Christian is to be the kind of son who says I will, but does not do it. Jesus makes the application to the pharisees, and when I am like them I am even worse because a pharisee says I am, when he is not.

Lord, I love your teaching. You remind me of such important truths in your Word. When I consider the love and forgiveness you had for Peter, it is a huge relief because I need that forgiveness. Help me Lord to be disciplined by you so that I can be more and more capable of doing what you say. Make me faithful; to my promises, to you my Savior.

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