After
We Fail
John
21:15-19
“Again
Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He answered,
'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my
sheep.' (21:16 NIV)”
Peter
loved Jesus. Jesus knew this. Perhaps after what had happened, Peter
needed to remember that he loved Jesus. Peter had messed up big time.
When push came to shove, Peter had denied even knowing Jesus. Most of
us would never go so far as to say that we don't even know Jesus, but
we have all fallen short of who Jesus is calling us to be. We have
all lashed out in anger and frustration, at a spouse, a friend, a
colleague. There are times throughout when we have not been entirely
Christlike. Our actions have not reflected Christ's love; our words
have not displayed Christ's compassion; our responses to others have
not been filled with Christ's patience, grace or kindness. In those
moments we are denying Christ, living within us. We, like Peter, need
to be reminded that we still love Jesus, and Jesus still loves us.
After such times, the best way to move forward is to continue to feed
Jesus's sheep; to keep trying to follow the example of the good and
loving shepherd, in all we do and say, to keep working at being who
God is calling us to be.
Prayer:
Lord
God, there are times when I am all too much like Peter.
I
deny you in my actions, in my words, in my responses to the world
around me.
I
are not always as Christlike as I know I should be, I could be.
Remind
me that my failings do not define me, that my failings do not negate
my love and devotion to you.
Help
me to always come back to you, to run to you, even when I know I have
failed at being who you want me to be.
I
love you.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment