4.8-What to do after an embarassing failure to measure up?

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4.8-
There are many followers of Jesus who have experienced failure in doing what they hoped they could do.  Peter had told Jesus once that though others might deny him in death that he would not.  Jesus cautioned Peter not to be too overconfident.  

 When the pressure came during the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus and cursed to prove that with his language.  Most all of us who have followed Jesus for any time have had our own moments of failure and disappointment to God, others and ourselves.  In those moments we think that God has no place to use us.  This is one of the amazing things about God’s grace.  It comes to us after we have failed miserably.  God’s kindness comes to us in these failure moments and He extends His mercy, kindness and grace.

After Jesus resurrection and Peter’s denial of him, Jesus asks Him, “Do you love me more than these?”  Peter responds that he loves Jesus, but his time he does not say that he is more courageous than these other disciples.  Some even suggest that the language Peter uses was more of a friendship word than a total unconditional love word.  For sure he seems more reserved in his answer.   

Then in His mercy Jesus gives him some great work to do. “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.”  The answer to times of failing Jesus is to get back up and do what Jesus wants done.  Get busy.  This is the best response to our failures.  Get busy receiving God’s mercy and using your life to help others.


John 21.
21 After these things Jesus [a]manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called [b]Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have [c]any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about [d]one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

Larry Wishard
3.30.18

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