Distrust Self, Trust in Christ
ONE of the lessons to be learned from Peter's denial of Christ is to distrust self. Peter was not a hypocrite. He did not intend to deny his Master. When he said that he was ready to go with Christ to prison or to death, to fight for him if need be, he meant it. And if fighting had been necessary, he would have stood his ground. This is seen by his action in the garden, when he was going to fight the whole band. He was brave even to rashness. He would have faced any number of men in physical combat, and would no doubt have died in defense of his Lord. How then do we account for his base denial? In this way: The trial came in a way that he was not expecting. He was ready for battle, but not for reproach. When he saw that resistance was not allowed, his courage fled. He was not armed at all points. And so it will ever be. If we are strained to resist a certain form of temptation, we may rest assured that Satan will make his attack in another manner. He will take us anawares if it is possible. This, then, ought to serve as a check against self-confidence. We are to resist Satan “steadfast in the faith;” not faith in ourselves, but faith in Christ. We must have all the armor on, not occasionally, but constantly. “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”