This morning’s devotion comes from the illustrious Nate M.
Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
“Leave it all out the field!” “Give 110%!” “We just wanted it more!” “We control our own destiny!” “It’s gut-check time!” Any of these well trodden sports cliches ring a bell? I love sports. I love watching them. I love watching people celebrate a championship win… the last out, a last second shot, a touchdown catch as time expires. Love it.
My athletic career can be summed up in one unfortunately true personal anecdote: I played youth league football, special teams, of course. So it’s the end of the game, I’d just gone to the concession stand to get a hotdog and coke, when the coach comes up and says, “Michaux, you want in the game?” Nevermind the fact I’d gone for a snack before the game was even over, but I looked at the coach, then looked at my quickly cooling hotdog, and politely declined. Pretty sure he muttered some words he shouldn’t have said in front of kids as he walked away in disgust. Great hotdog though. Can’t remember if we won or lost.
I take a light hearted detour only to remind myself that no matter what, even if I had been a star athlete or a legendary musician, or whatever…at the end of the day, I’m still like Peter. On the outside, I’m trying to be the Peter who says, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” On the inside, in any given circumstance, I’m just like the Peter we find a few verses later. When push comes to shove, my default mode is to save my own skin. I care a great deal about my own comfort. I wish it weren’t true, but it is.
That’s why I’m not convinced that I just need a cosmic helper, that doesn’t do me any good. I need a Savior, everyday.
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2 responses to “Hopelessly Devoted: Matthew Chapter Twenty Six Verses Thirty Three to Thirty Five”
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“That’s why I’m not convinced that I just need a cosmic helper, that doesn’t do me any good. I need a Savior, everyday.”
Exactly!
God didn’t come down here to give us a tune-up. He came to kill us off…and then raise us again. Just as he was (both).