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Peter’s denial of Jesus was not an isolated incident. It was preceded by five small steps. 1) Overconfidence; 2) Prayerlessness; 3) Misguided zeal; 4) Distancing; and 5) Fellowship with the world. Each decision compounded the preceding one making Peter’s denial almost inevitable. Early on he could have reversed his downward slide fairly easy, but with each succeeding step it became more difficult. Your best chance to defeat temptation is in the early stages before it gets a foothold in your life.
“Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:12 (MSG)
Lord Jesus, temptation is inevitable so help us prepare for it. Help us to recognize our weaknesses lest temptation blindside us. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.