Skip to main content

Love Despite Failure


Many I have spoken with through the years have had a concept of failure as being "final." They express that "all is lost" or that they should just give up, throw in the towel and quit because "it's over." 

I think our society is too quick in sending these kind of messages. Just look at how easy it is to go from "Hero to Zero" today. Look at how quick our world will disown, discredit and destroy those who fail "just once." There just doesn't seem to be even an ounce of "mercy" left today!

I am sure the Disciples of Jesus were feeling like they totally blew it when they suddenly realized what they had done...abandoned Jesus (in the Garden of Gethsemane) at the most crucial time in human history (when Jesus was arrested). Unfortunately, Judas took the "easy wrong" instead of the "hard right" and committed suicide by hanging himself. Peter cursed up a storm to emphatically deny knowing Jesus (three times).

But, it wasn't just Judas and Peter...it was all 12 Disciples. When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:56 tells us "...Then all the disciples deserted him and fled." Betrayal, abandonment, denial...you name it, Jesus endured it all. 

His main purpose was not to be just a punching-bag or a 'sin-sponge' to absorb all the brokenness we could dish out. His purpose was to show us the unconditional love of God the Father. It was to invite us into a personal, loving, intimate relationship with him.

This is what I find so fascinating about how Jesus restored Peter (John 21:15-19). Jesus didn't take Peter's denials and rub them in his face or grab him by the collar and demand an apology. In fact, Jesus wasn't looking for a confession of sin...Jesus was hoping for a confession of love...and that is precisely how Peter responded. PETER GOT IT! Peter said, "You know all things. You know that I love you!"

Jesus covers all our failures with his unconditional and pardoning love. What disappointments, mistakes or failures are you STILL holding on to? Failure is not in falling down...it is in the refusal to "get back up." Will you allow Jesus to help you back up? His hand is outstretched...will you grasp his hand and let Jesus help you get back up on your feet? I'm sure Peter would be cheering you on saying "do it...you won't be sorry!!"

Popular posts from this blog

Stay Focused!

  Since the birth of social media and 24-hour news organizations, we have quickly seen that information (true or false) travels quickly. It reminds me of words from the infamous church camp song “Pass It On” which states “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” We have seen how quickly sparks of information can set our emotions into flame with the recent deaths of Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman. Their senseless deaths set off a blaze of responses due to their murders being categorized as assassinations. Sadly, this isn’t anything new. Just hearing the word “assassination,” we think of people such as John and Robert Kennedy, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. We can even go back in time to notable leaders as Abraham Lincoln and Julius Ceasar. Yes, it is true what Solomon remarked in Ecclesiastes 1:9 , “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Evil is doing what evil does. Therefore, since we (...
Read more

The Chronicles Advice

  There is a powerful verse in the Old Testament book that comes from a father to his son. You may have heard of these two men: King David and his son, Solomon. The time is coming for Solomon to be the next King and Dad has some advice for him as he is facing the daunting task of building the Temple. This is what King David advised: 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 , “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.” That’s good advice. No, wait. That is great advice. No, maybe there is even a better way to say it. I know! It’s life-changing and sensational advice that we all want to embrace as a Christian. The fact r...
Read more

Metanoia!

There is a verse in the New Testament that every Christian should not only memorize but embrace as a truth to be shared with the world. It is  Mark 1:15 (NLT) ,  “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Jesus proclaimed a direct command and challenge to everyone He saw with this very command. He proclaimed the need to repent and reform. This was more than just changing your opinion or a particular belief. It is a change of heart, mind, and life.   The word for “repent” in this Gospel passage that Mark uses is the Greek word  “metanoia.”  This word does not simply mean to be sorry for our sins, as appropriate as this is. The word means literally to  turn around and go in the opposite direction . It means “to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.”   This repentance means to make a 180-degree turn in our lives when the direction we are going is leading us aw...
Read more