Introduction:After about five weeks of dealing with Advent, Christmas and the Gregorian New Year, I am returning to my Mark, Isaiah, Psalms rotation of devotional readings (except for Epiphany in a few days). The next passage in Mark serves very well as a stimulus for us to think about ‘rash words’ and ‘broken promises’! The Bible is full of examples of people going back or never going forward on their commitments and promises!
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same
Thoughts and Comments: How similar is it here seeing Jesus talking to His disciples as it is in God talking with our first parents in the Garden of Eden? I often wonder when reading the story of Adam and Eve how God appeared to them. Their eyes must have been amazed as they saw all around them things that God had made for them to experience in the Garden and heard Him talking with them. We don’t have a statement that they made one like Peter’s recorded in this Marcian passage above! But I’m sure that they listened intently as God walked and talked with them. I’m sure that they heard the words about not eating the fruit of the tree in the centre of ‘their patch’. I’m pretty sure that they nodded their heads in both understanding and implied submission to the order. But….. and we know the story and the result. My wife and I have been going through the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles a chapter a day. 1 Chronicles most days is difficult because so much of it is a list of genealogies. Both books, but particularly the second, are a list of the Kings of Judea following David in lineage up until the Jews were taken into captivity in Babylon. If you think that Peter is the only one who messed up his life with broken promises, start reading at the beginning and see highlighted a list of tragic broken promises in Scripture! So you’re not on your own if you break your New Year Resolutions. Resolutions can be light-hearted and almost a joke but there are mixed in with them very serious promises to either family, social problems and even to God. If we break our word to ourselves, others or God let us not use the excuse that everybody does break commitments and promises. May our honesty to God stop us from being flippant and, not with inappropriate guilt, but with real guilt, repentance and renewed commitment move on into 2026 with clear consciences, determination to be good and follow the Master to the end. Perseverance is a highly recommended characteristic in the Bible.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Prayer: Help me to show my faith, while speaking the Gospel, by living true to it!
As I read it! 