The Difference

"But Peter said to Him, 'Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.' And Jesus said to him, 'Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me.' But Peter kept saying insistently, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' And they were all saying the same thing, too.' " (Mark 14:29-31)

"And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me." (II Peter 1:13-14)

We know the first story well, Peter--and the others--claiming that they would die for Christ before they would deny him. And they meant every word of it!!! Yet, Peter denied his Lord. He was too afraid to die for Him.

But at the end of his life, do you sense the great calmness with which he faces death for His Lord? There is no fear--or boasting. Death is coming--a martyr's death--but Peter is unafraid. He's just busy doing the Lord's work until God takes him home.

What made the difference? Peter learned a long time ago that the proper motivation, the energizing power in the disciple's life, was not how much he loved his Lord, but a deep reflection on how much his Lord loved him. No matter what he had done, no matter how deep his failure, Jesus loved him. "Lord, you know all things, and you know that I love you." And Jesus never doubted Peter's love for Him, even when he failed miserably to show it. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Yes! Jesus loves me. Yes! Jesus loves me Yes! Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so."

Nothing you can do will stop Him from loving you or cause Him to doubt that you love Him. That truth, once learned, leads to powerful, fearless discipleship.