Given October 8, 2011 
Have you ever failed God? Have you ever done something bad and then later realized what you had done and were overwhelmed with guilt? Sure, we all have. But the fact that it really bothers us shows that we are repentant and are sorry. At that point, we need to ask God to forgive us, ask Him for His help not to do it again, and accept his forgiveness. He will forgive us and get us back on the right path to where He wants to take us.
If you think you’ve failed Jesus too badly or too many times to get back in His good graces, let me remind you of Peter, the disciple. Jesus called Peter, “the Rock”, (Matthew 16:18), when he correctly answered Jesus by saying He was the Messiah. When Jesus told them at the last supper that they would all deny Him, Peter was quick and bold to say, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”(Matthew 26:33). But later that night, Peter, the Rock, not only denied Jesus but did it three times, the last time with cursing. Then… he heard the rooster crow and remembered what was said earlier and he was overwhelmed with guilt. Peter failed Jesus, he blew it badly. And so have we. But all is not lost…
The words of the song from 1980 by Don Francisco, “He’s Alive”, come to my mind relating to Peter:
“And Jesus stood before me, with his arms held open wide.
And I fell down on my knees and I just clung to Him and cried.
Then He raised me to my feet, and as I looked into His eyes.
The love was shining out from Him, like sunlight from the skies.
Guilt in my confusion, disappeared in sweet release.
And every fear I’d ever had, just melted into peace.”
Peter, as bad as he had failed Jesus, was forgiven. Jesus got him up off the floor, looked him straight in the eye, and, I imagine, said, “I love you Peter, I know you are sorry, and I forgive you. I bet He gave him a big hug too. And, Jesus will do the same for you. Look into His eyes… what do you see? That same love is there. Let go of that guilt today. Jesus is standing there with His arms held open wide. Go to Him.
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