courage for fickle times

Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2412

John 6:66-71

Joh 6:66 From that moment many of his disciples went away and no longer walked with him.
Joh 6:67 That was why Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to leave too, do you?”
Joh 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, whom would we go away to? You have the words of permanent life.
Joh 6:69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.”
Joh 6:70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I select you, the Twelve? Yet one from you is a devil.”
Joh 6:71 He was referring to Judas, from Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, because he was going to hand him over.

courage for fickle times

It is quite significant that Peter’s confession of Christ at this point mentions the ῥήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου. It was these words about permanent life that came to Peter as the reason  the disciples to stay with Jesus, even when others are deserting him. Like Peter, we live in Fickle times. One moment, our society is lauding our evangelists, the next they are persecuting our churches. Peter understood that the hope of a resurrection into permanent life is worth identifying with Christ, even when our world turns against him. He offers a solid hope for any times, even fickle ones.

LORD, give us the courage to stand by you, even while others around us are falling away.