The title is correct.
It is not “if” but rather, “when.” One of the things I love about the
inspired Word is that the stories of the ‘heroes of faith’ get told in full, without
censoring out the ugly stuff! Araham, the father of the faithful, lied about
Sarah’s identity to save his own skin. David, the man who loved God
wholeheartedly, lusted for Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, and ended up conspiring to
murder. Peter vehemently swore he did not know Jesus when he felt
threatened. Later on, he compromised his
Christian conviction about God’s acceptance of all people and exercised
prejudice against the Gentile believers.
Today I write to encourage renewal and hope. The lie
persists both inside of us and in the Christian church that failure makes us
unacceptable to God, unworthy of His service.
Jesus’ interaction with Peter on the shore of Galilee says
otherwise. Peter was so demoralized by
his denial of the Lord that he went back to fishing. One morning, after a night of fruitless
effort, the resurrected Lord came to the beach.
He did not berate Peter. He
restored him – with confrontation,
confession, and commission! "After
breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than
these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my
lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you
love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my
sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love
me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord,
you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my
sheep." (John 21:15-17, NLT) Three denials, three affirmations!
When we fail, God offers forgiveness and restoration. How
does it happen? Look at this amazing
passage. Speaking of the efficacy of the
sacrifices of lambs and bulls to atone for the sins of the Old Testament faithful,
the Word then tells us - "How much
more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to
death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now
that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the
first covenant." (Hebrews 9:14-15, NIV)
Christ Jesus holds out His hand to us and restores us to our
Father; a Mediator of the Holy Promise!
His grace is free, but it is not cheap.
And it is not a Band-Aid™ to temporarily soothe us;
it is a healing experience that empowers us for a whole new
kind of life.
Here in the opening days of this New Year, we must not become
obsessed with living a flawless life. Instead, we will choose to celebrate God’s
grace. The paradox of holiness is that it is first declared by God,
and then grows in us. We cannot perfect ourselves, but He can, and will, make
us whole. Paul might have spent his life after meeting Christ filled with shame
and regret for his persecution of Christians, a kind of spiritual leper, crying
“Unclean! Unworthy!” He did not! Instead,
he accepted the forgiveness of the Lord and help of Barnabas and gave us half
of our New Testament by the inspiration of the Spirit! Might have been thinking about his part in the
stoning death of Stephen even as he wrote that ‘there is no condemnation for those who in Christ?
His words about God’s grace move me deeply. "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah,
that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s
being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black
cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong
wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of
brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2, The
Message) "Obsession with self in
these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into
a spacious, free life." (Romans 8:6, The Message) "If
God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking
more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this
invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re
talking about." (Romans 8:8-9, The Message)
Are there some dark chapters
in your story? Does some temptation whisper its seduction in your heart?
Is fear fighting with faith in your chest? Stop soaking in self-pity. Refuse to listen to the lie that
you are unworthy. Cling to the Mediator of Grace, the One whose perfection wraps
around our failures and ushers into the Presence of God.
Here are words from the Word. Spend a few moments letting
them fill your mind, as you invite the Spirit, to make them living Truth today.
“Come now, let us
reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
(Isaiah 1:18, NIV)
"Wash away all my
iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin
is always before me." (Psalm 51:2-3, NIV)
"If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9, NKJV)
_____________
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood
Died He for me who caused His pain
For me who Him to death pursued
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
He left His Father's throne above
So free so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam's helpless race
'Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me
'Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee
No condemnation now I dread
Jesus and all in Him is mine
Alive in Him my living Head
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach th'eternal throne
And claim the crown through Christ my own
Bold I approach th'eternal throne
And claim the crown through Christ my own
Charles Wesley
© Words: Public
Domain
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
Faith Discovery Church
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