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29th March: Failure

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. Luke 22:31

Peter had failed his Lord desperately. A broken man, he had gone out into the night and wept bitterly (Lk 22:62). But the security of the believer depends ultimately on his Lord, and he had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail (Lk 22:31). So the Lord sent Peter a special message after his resurrection (Mk 16:7) and invited him, with the other disciples, to a meeting in Galilee at which he could effect Peter's restoration to a position of love, trust and purpose. The scene in Galilee was carefully prepared; and again before a fire, Peter is questioned three times: `Lovest though me?' (Jn 21). Twice Peter answered, but how his heart must have been condemning him: `You say you love your Lord, but just think of what you did, don't you remember the oaths...?' On the third question Peter, as it were, confessed his failure and acknowledged his wretchedness: `Lord, though knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee'... despite what I have done, forgive, and help me to do better the next time!

John, who had been with Peter on both occasions (Jn 18:15-16; 21:20), seems to have been deeply moved by Peter's experience. In his first letter, which is all about assurance in Christian things, he seems to have had the experience of Peter in mind. In chapter 3:19-24 he says `Be assured, we are of the truth: and if our hearts condemn us'... perhaps because something in our lives has not been consistent with the truth... (God is great, he knows and understand) -- go on, and seek to be more pleasing to him next time!

And this is exactly what happened with Peter. There was another time when Peter was in the High Priest's house, but this time he was in the hot seat -- before the Sanhedrin and not just in front of a slip of a maid (Acts 4:1-23). The outcome this time was utterly different: `They saw the courage of Peter and John and noted that they had been with Jesus' (v13).

Lord, your love and understanding are greater than my
failures; You know that I love you despite the mess I
have made of things; Lord, forgive the past and help me
to live in a way more pleasing to you.

Further reading: 1 Jn 3:19-24. Heb 2:16-18, 4:14-16.

PCE

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