Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”(John 13:37)
We have a tendency to prepare ourselves for the attacks of the evil one where we are the weakest. But experience has taught me that Satan often attacks where we are seemingly the strongest. Today’s word is designed to be both a comfort and a caution to you as you go throughout your day.
In today’s verse we read of Peter’s sold-out commitment and service to his Savior. Peter was confident in his commitment to Christ, but, ultimately, Peter’s confidence was in himself. Peter was boasting of his own strength, and this is exactly where the devil found his foothold.
Peter was unaware of the weakness of his strengths. We must all remember that the enemy’s attacks will come, not only at our weak points or during our low periods, but also at the peak of what we consider to be our strengths. Peter was secure in his belief that his own strength and will could withstand any attack that might come his way, and that is exactly where Satan tripped him up, exposing Peter’s true, natural condition: harassed and helpless apart from his Shepherd.
What was true for Peter is true for you and me. We have all been tripped up by the devil in places we felt the strongest. Our strength is our weakness when, like Samson, we trust in the gift of our strength rather than in the One who gave us that gift. We must never believe that we are safe in our strengths; we are only safe in the strength of our Savior, who is at work within us. To be sure, the devil looks for chinks in our armor and launches his attacks, but we must also be ready to do battle with the evil one in areas where we believe we are fully armored.
When we find ourselves in the cross-hairs of the world, the flesh, and the devil, let us remember that we can do all things . . . but only those things in which Christ has strengthened us. The best way to keep our strengths from becoming our weaknesses to the watching world is to keep our eye of faith fixed on Jesus, the One who has promised us victory in Him and in Him alone. It is in His strength, nor our strength, where we will stand firm against every attack the devil sends our way.
As James said, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Christian, remember that where we are weak, there Christ is strong.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 