Devotional-Getting on your feet again- Glory & Grace

But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee… (Mk. 16:7 KJV)

The above verse records a statement that the angel that met with the disciples after Christ resurrected from the grave. He said to the disciples, “go your way, tell his disciples and Peter“. Peter was obviously one of the disciples, but the angel sets him apart from the other disciples by those two words “and Peter”.

The reason is obvious. Three days earlier, Peter had committed the worst error of his entire life. He had openly denied Jesus, not once, but three times. Peter’s self-image was ruined. How will he ever be able to stand before Christ again? Can he ever preach boldly about this Jesus that he rejected? Was he now confirmed a failure? Can you imagine the thoughts that were going through Peter’s mind after this tract catastrophe that happened to his faith?

One of the treasures we have in our Savior is His unimaginable acceptance despite our failures. We all make mistakes of different proportions, every day. Being able to recover from a tragic failure like Peter’s is an important spiritual quality in itself. This requires that we completely depend on the Lord and not count on our abilities. If you are too dependent on yourself, then we will find it hard to forgive ourselves and move on after we “mess up” or miss it even when the Lord has already forgiven us. God’s unconditional love and acceptance in Christ are a most precious medication to heal our hearts when we fall short of expectations. Jesus did not leave out Peter even after he denied Him. He will not leave us too. We should learn to depend entirely on His love for us at all times even when we seem to fail miserably.

MEDITATE

The Word in your mind and mouth (1 Tim 4:15; Josh 1: 8)

Think on those two words “and Peter”. And replace “Peter” with your name. Do you know there are people who have aborted God’s plan for their lives because they were unable to move past a mistake? Are you fixed at an event that happened before and unable to move forward?

PRAY

Water the Seed (word) to grow. Invite the Spirit’s strength! (Isa 32:15; Zach 4:6)

Please thank God for His unconditional love and acceptance for us in Christ. Ask Him for the humility not to be “so full of ourselves” that we are unable to rise up after falling down, even when the Lord asks us to get up from the ashes. He never plans for us to fall, but does not want us to stay down.

APPLY THE WORD TODAY!

Your door to a blessed life today is doing God’s Word. Refuse to be a hearer or reader only! (James 1:22-26)

Act on His Word. Do not continue to carry guilt, condemnation, regrets, and sorrow because of what you have done which you have already asked Him for forgiveness. Trust God and look on Him completely, even for the little errors you make every day. Keep your eyes always on His love.

Recommended Read: Grace in the Book of Ephesians

Must Read!: What is a Daily Devotional?