I currently serve as a Sunday school teacher in one of the local churches. I teach the youth class and the most recently we studied the passage of the Bible where Jesus was betrayed by his own disciples. In the story Judas Iscariot and a detachment of Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus by night while he prayed. All the disciples fled because they were scared. But Peter followed behind as Jesus was led away. And when they got to the house where Jesus was to have his trial, several servant girls asked Peter if he was a disciple. Peter denies knowing Jesus three times. Three times he was asked and three times he denied ever knowing Jesus. He was fearful that if he said, “Yes, I do know him,” that he might die that same night with Jesus or shortly after.
Our Sunday school lesson asked what we would do in Peter’s situation. Would we have done any better or would we have answered, “Yes, I know him?” The lesson was saying that we should not think highly of ourselves and think that we would succeed where Peter failed.
But then I had a student speak up and he said that if we were in that situation, God could and would give us the strength and the will to do the right thing, even when it is hard.
I was very impressed with this student and his answer because it was true. God is completely able to supply us in such a moment. We are in great need of God, we could never stand in such a circumstance without him, but we must not forget that we are not alone. Both ideas are simultaneous true. This story can be found in Luke 22:47-63 from the Bible.
Jesus, before he left this Earth, told us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 from the Bible) If we were to say or to think that God is not with us or will not hear when we call on Him would be calling Him a liar.
Being a follower of Christ means living with tensions such as these. God is able and powerful and on our side to help us succeed. We must let go of our pride and be willing to receive help. The curse of sin in each of us causes us to easily go astray from God; yet God’s Spirit speaking to each one of us encourages us to follow Him with all that we are! So I hope this encourages you. Yes, it is easy to do what we do not want to do. But in those moments, Jesus is there with us, to help us and to give us the strength to do what is right.
Travis Harms serves locally with InterAct Ministries of Canada and Midway Bible Camp.
