When is the last time you messed up? Maybe it was something
big, maybe was just a little something, but we all mess up in life from time to
time, don't we?
This week, I was talking with a couple of people at work and
that night I started thinking about the conversation. The next day I went to
each of them and said, "I want to apologize, I said something negative and
I shouldn't have."Each of them said, "That's OK, we didn't think
anything about it." That little incident cost me nothing, reminded me of
the value of watching what I said and let others know that as a Christian I
have certain values.
In the gospel record of Christ's arrest before his
crucifixion we read of his disciple Peter's actions. You are probable aware of
how he denied even know Jesus, not once, but three times. How would you like to
be remembered for that?
In
John 21 Jesus comes to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee about a
week after his death, burial and resurrection. He serves them breakfast and has
one of his more famous discussions with Peter. He asks Peter, "Do
you love me," not just once, but three times. Now think about the
situation. He was sitting there around the fire having breakfast with all of
the other disciples. Each of those men knew that Peter had denied Jesus.
What
was worse is that just a week before this we have the following conversation
recorded for EVERYONE to see and remember: "Peter declared, "Even if
everyone else deserts You, I will never desert you." Jesus replied,
"I tell you the truth, Peter; this very night, before the rooster crows,
you will deny three times that you even know Me "No!" Peter insisted.
"Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!" And all the
other disciples vowed the same." (Matthew 26:33-35)
Wow,
how embarrassing would that be now as he is sitting there with Jesus at
breakfast! Jesus. In the end Peter couldn't bear it, he just bows his head,
heart broken, and says, "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." Jesus was saying,
"then live like you mean it, like you really, really love me!"
(John 21:17)
You
see, that is what Jesus is asking of us every day. He knows we are going to
mess us, but we need to own up to it even if it is embarrassing, ask for
forgiveness and then get on with serving God. It maybe some little thing or it
could be some big thing… it doesn't matter. Make it right no matter how
embarrassing and get on with living like
you really love God. The apostle John, who saw all of this take place,
wrote in 1John 1:8-9, "If we
claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the
truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Maybe it is
time to stop being embarrassed and start making things right with God and your
fellow men.
