"Never Say Never"

 He told the Lord never,

Will I deny you,

But never say never,

His worst fear came true.

Denied the Lord Jesus,

Not one time but three,

Heard that old rooster,

And wept bitterly.

Sometimes folks will say things,

That you can’t believe,

And if you fall for it,

All you will receive,

Is bad disappointment,

‘Cause you cannot trust,

In all that they promise,

It’s not something they must,

Do or die trying,

It’s not how they feel,

And most don’t know better,

And what is unreal,

Is how little they’re caring,

About what they said,

For them it is minor,

For you it’s their cred.

Humility calls us,

To show care when we speak,

Not make a big promise,

With a follow-up weak.

And if we do say it,

Then by God it’s done,

Take it and bank it,

Just do it, old son.

The good news is Peter,

He made a big change,

And filled with the Spirit,

Made a gospel exchange.

He stood and delivered,

The word God gave him,

And used by the Spirit,

Made clear what was dim.

So rein in that big mouth,

And get on with what’s right,

Show it and share it,

And all in the light.

“If anyone claims, ‘ I am living in the light,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is til lliving in darkness…” (1 John 2:9, NLT)

Sometimes what people say is negated by how they live. John draws an important picture of one who makes big promises but they fail the test of authenticity because they hate, rather than love. The mark of the true Christian, in other words, is that we really love others. Jesus said that love was the one nonnegotiable quality that every Christian should have and cannot ultimately fake.

Lord, help us live with integrity, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Steve Devenyns, used by permission. Thanks, Steve, and God bless you.