Mark 14:29 (NASBStr)
But Peter said to Him, “ Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”
How many times have I said this to Christ? We stand up after a church service, we call out at the end of our morning or evening devotional times, we make a pledge at a Christian concert, or we simply are convicted of our sin and call out to God, "Never again will I deny you!" But, like Peter, within hours (maybe minutes) we fail to follow through. The reason Peter failed (and we do as well) is that Peter's statement was based upon HIS ability to WILL his way to obedience and commitment. WILLING ourselves to obey is like telling the dog not to eat the steak laying on the floor. The nature will take over ... it always does. Our nature is bent on sin. Peter showed this in his character. He made a bold statement. It would make any preacher proud. But, without the power of the Spirit, Peter was about to and destined to fail. Remember when the disciples could not cast out the demon in the young child. Jesus came down from the mountain and told them that casting out a demon of this kind took faith. It was a spiritual act. So, too, making a statement like Peter made. He should have said, "As you empower me, I will never fall away." We can't do what we don't yield to the power to do in us!!
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