God Has Not Forsaken You
“…you will deny Me three times.” Luke 22:61
The Bible says, “And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord,.… “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62). What is it that saves us? Our good works? No, it is our faith in Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Now you understand the words of Christ to Peter: “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32a). When you have faith in Christ, you can bounce back. When it comes to God’s grace, there is no statute of limitations. Peter denied Jesus not once but repeatedly. Perhaps that’s your story too! This was not a moment that Peter would be proud of, but an experience he would grow stronger as a result of. When someone fails badly, we say that they “crash and burn.” And when something is burned, all that’s left is ashes. But we serve a God of restoration who gives “beauty for ashes” (See Isaiah 61:3). If you had seen Peter swearing that he did not know the Lord, would you have picked him to be your pastor? God did. He made him the head of the New Testament church. We tell people, “Don’t get into messes” and “Don’t sin.” And that’s good advice—God does not want us sinning. But we should really say, “Don’t walk headfirst into sin when you know better. But when you fail, as you surely will, turn to God and He will restore you and use your failure to strengthen you.”
PRAYER: Dear God, when I fail repeatedly, as I know I do, lead me to repentance so that I may rejoice that Your grace will always restore me. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
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