“…I Never Will”

“…I never will” what?

I never will abandon God?

I never will walk away from my calling?

I never will behave in a way that brings shame to the cause of Christ?

Who spoke those words?

What do they mean in context?

Well, here is the context for you:

“Then Jesus told them,

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me,

for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,

    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

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

Matthew 26:31-33

Peter didn’t mince his words.

He didn’t say: “I don’t think I will.”

He didn’t say: “I hope I won’t”

He didn’t even hedge a little by saying: “I’ll try not to.”

His words were adamant and certain – “…I never will.”

But his words were also untrue.

Have you ever done that?

Have you ever spoken, in no uncertain terms to God that you will

never

turn away only to fail that very same day?

I have.

But the wonderful rest of the story reveals a God of forgiveness, a God of redemption, a God of second (and third and fourth and…) chances.

A God who met Peter on the shore after His resurrection and commissioned him to

“Feed my sheep...”

Not only did Jesus forgive, He charged him with feeding the flock.

Maybe you’ve blown it.

You think there is no forgiveness.

But there is!

Peter’s story is your story and my story.

Peter’s story is no accident.

God inspired the writers to include it so that you and I could be encouraged

 even after

we declare so proudly…

I never will!