Talk is cheap

“Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Will you really lay down your life for Me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times!’” John 13:37-38
Little did Peter know, in less than twelve hours he would be saying over and over again, “I never knew the man!”, calling down curses on himself and swearing like a sailor just to prove he couldn’t possibly be associated with Jesus. This same Peter, who had been so strong earlier, took that strength of character for granted and failed in spectacular fashion.
It is similar for us. We usually fail in the areas we think we have covered, where we don’t rely on the Lord for help. The truth is we need His help in everything. Peter slept in the Garden of Gethsemane, instead of following Jesus’ instruction to “pray lest you fall into temptation” (Matt. 26:41).
The good news for Peter is that he repented and was restored by the Lord. He never denied the Lord again, and did indeed lay down his life for the Lord, and died a martyr’s death. But I am sure that he was reminded of an earlier time when he said he was ready to do this, but when push came to shove he took the easy road out.
The Bible tells us, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfil it” (Ecc. 5:5). We don’t realise how frail we are. This is why we need the empowering of God Himself inside us.