Able to Keep you from Falling

 This morning I was working on reviewing the Bible verses I've been memorizing using Scripture Typer. Coming to the end of Mark chapter 14, I found my mind wrapped up in the story of Jesus being falsely accused and tormented in the middle of the night by the high priests and the whole council. His disciple, Peter was downstairs where the servants hung out, warming himself by the fire, waiting to hear the outcome. But he obviously was scared of getting into trouble himself, because when a maid of the high priest confronted him about his identity he “denied that he was with Jesus of Nazareth, and that he didn't even know what she was talking about. He went out on the porch, just in time to hear a rooster crow. Another maid saw him, saying surely he was one of the disciples, but he denied it again, even cursing and swearing that “I know not this man of whom ye speak.” Mark 14:71. And then the cock crowed again, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “Before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice.” Ouch! The truth was so terrible that when he thought about it, “he wept.” Mark 14:72.

Peter, the man so enthusiastic about Jesus and being a disciple, calling him the “Son of God” before everyone, denied that he even knew Jesus. The circumstances had changed. Rather then the hope of glory at the right hand of God, he now faced the possibility of being arrested and mistreated with Jesus. Was he really willing to do anything with Jesus, even to suffer with him? Did he really believe in Jesus? Had he been paying attention to all that Jesus had said?

And what about me, what if I were put into a situation where being a Christian was not looked favorably upon. What if being a Christian meant the possibility of arrest, or worse? Would I acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God there, or would I deny that I knew him? I think I am a bit like Peter, “The spirit is truly ready but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38. Jesus knew everything about Peter, and he still loved him. Later on he let Peter know that in words.

Chapter 14 came to a close with Peter weeping when he realized he had denied knowing Jesus, and with my heart heavy knowing that it would be so easy, knowing the weakness of my flesh, for me to deny Him too. 

Then a surprise popped up on the screen. The next verse for me to review was not from Mark, but another verse that I had been working on for a long time. Jude 1:24, 25. The message spoke to me as I typed it from memory and saw the words appear on the screen.

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultess before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

He, my God, is able to keep me from falling, to keep me faultless, and it will bring Him exceeding joy to do so. Yes, that is the answer. I will keep asking God to keep me from denying him. I will let Him help me. Praise to God for this precious promise at such an appropriate moment. I pray that my life will always give Him “exceeding joy.”  All glory and majesty, dominion and power belong to Him.