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. Yet, experience has taught me on more than one occasion, Satan often attacks where we are seemingly the strongest. Today’s word is designed as both a comfort and a caution as you go throughout your day.
In our verse today we read of Peter’s sold-out commitment and service to his Savior. Peter was confident in his commitment to Christ. But his confidence was in himself. Peter was boasting of his strength and this is exactly where the devil found his foothold. Peter was unaware of the weakness of his strengths. What we all need to remember is attacks will not only assault us at our weak or low points, but also at the heights of what we consider to be our strengths. Peter was secure in his strength to withstand any attack that would come his way, and that is exactly the place where Satan tripped him up, exposing Peter for his true natural condition – poor, blind, and naked.
What was true for Peter is true for all of us. Our strength is also our weakness when we are trusting in our strength rather than in the One who has given it to us. We have all been tripped up by the devil in the places we felt the strongest. Like Samson, we were counting on our gift of strength rather than on the One who had given us that gift. We must never think we are safe in our strengths. We are only safe in the strength of our Savior that is at work within us. To be sure, the devil looks for chinks in our armor and will launch his attack. But we must also be ready to do battle with the evil one where we feel we are fully armored up.
When we find ourselves in the cross-hairs of the world, the flesh, and the devil, let us remember we can do all things . . . but only those things in which Christ has strengthened us. The best way to keep the weakness of our strengths from witnessing to the watching world is to keep our eye of faith fixed on Jesus, the One who has promised us victory in Him and 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). Remember, where we are weak, there He is strong.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 