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Loved, Even Inside of Our Failures
Andrea Lende • May 30, 2021
Mark 14:72
Loved, Even Inside of Our Failures
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Loved--Even-Inside-of-Our-Failures-e11rtq6
Mark 14:72
“And at once for the second time a cock crowed. And Peter remembered how Jesus said to him, Before a cock crows twice, you will utterly deny Me [disclaiming all connection with Me] three times. And having put his thought upon it [and remembering], he broke down and wept aloud and lamented.”
Peter, the disciple who knew Jesus was the Messiah and even promised to die with Him, disowned Christ.
Peter, who walked with Jesus for three years, watched Him heal the sick and blind, saw Him calm the windy seas, still denied he knew Jesus.
He hadn’t failed the Lord though.
He really had just failed himself.
And he was convicted about it as he broke down and cried.
However, Jesus already knew he would not be able to stand with Him.
In fact, He told him so.
He gave Peter a sign so that Peter would, once again know in his heart that Jesus was truly the Christ.
And when Peter heard the cock crow a second time, it was confirmed.
One more miracle just before Jesus’ death.
Here’s the thing.
Jesus loved him despite his weakness.
And Jesus knew his failure was part of the divine plan.
He was not supposed to lose any of the disciples’ lives except for Judas.
If Peter would have stood up and been counted as one of Jesus’ disciples, he likely would have been crucified right along with Him.
All was going according to God’s perfect plan.
Peter’s life was of supreme importance in spreading Christianity.
It was just a matter of time.
Three days.
Three days from Jesus’ death the plan for the rest of Peter’s life would be set in stone.
He would be the rock on which the church was built.
So, initially Peter failed himself, but he did not fail God or God’s perfect plan.
In addition, Jesus knew Peter would deny Him and it didn’t make Jesus love Him any less.
Similarly, our failures cannot steal us from God’s love.
Our failures cannot steal us from God’s perfect plan for our lives.
He already knows how He will use us despite our failures.
In fact, He knows how He will use our failures to further His plan for His glory.
Today I choose to accept God’s love not only when I succeed but also when I fail, and pray He helps me offer grace to myself knowing I am inside His perfect plan.
May you find the Lord is gracious to you and loves you far beyond your failures.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me again just how gracious You are. Thank You for showing me that my strengths and my weaknesses are all a part of Your plan. Thank You for showing me You can still work Your perfect plan even inside of my failures. Help me accept the free grace You offer and help me give grace to myself as well. Keep me at Your feet learning more of Your ways. Forgive my shortcomings of this day and help me move through them without leaning into them and the destruction they could do. Instead, help me receive Your forgiveness and learn the lessons they teach. Strengthen me in every way today, Father. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you My child and I love you beyond your failures for I know the plans I have for you.
Response: Help me rest in Your presence, Father, and be made whole.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.