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Something To Think About

It Is Always Better To Ponder Than To Pontificate

When someone comes to you with a “word from the Lord”; when you have a dream that seems to have an unusual spiritual dimension to it; when you have an extraordinary encounter with God, and you are not quite sure how to respond to these experiences, why not just treasure them and ponder them in your heart. Keep them between you and your Lord, and over time just watch to see how God uses them.

The Journey: Luke 2:19

But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

The King James Version says “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” That statement has always intrigued me, and I am not exactly sure what it means. Something similar is stated again at the end of the chapter in verse 51 as Luke gives us a glimpse into the life of Jesus as a growing boy at about the age of 12.

But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

We don’t know a great deal about Jesus’ early life beyond what we read here, but to say the least, it must have been quite interesting for Mary to be the mother of God. I think it is safe to say that, on the one hand, Jesus was like any other baby who needed to be changed, cried when he was hungry, developed a cute little personality as the months passed by, had to be taught the ways of the family, and became an inquisitive little boy.

On the other hand, he was the Son of God. Angels attended his birth, shepherds came to worship him, wise men from afar brought him expensive gifts, holy men and women prophesied over him during the customary temple ceremonies, and he carried on a spirited dialogue with the intelligentsia of his day during a family visit to the temple when he was just twelve years old.

I am sure that most mothers and fathers would have bragged incessantly and shamelessly to the neighbors about their son’s many outstanding qualities and unusual experiences. But not Mary; she simply treasured all these things that were said about Jesus and all the things that Jesus did as he grew, and pondered them in her heart. In other words, she gave them a lot of thought; she kept them between herself and her Lord.

That is not such not a bad idea, wouldn’t you say? We probably ought to do that a lot more often. Rather than blurting out everything that happens to you or happens in you, perhaps you ought to just meditate on some of those experiences and keep them between the Lord and you.

When someone comes to you with a “word from the Lord”; when you have a dream that seems to have an unusual spiritual dimension to it; when you have an extraordinary encounter with God, and you are not quite sure how to respond to these experiences, why not just treasure them and ponder them in your heart. Keep them between you and your Lord, and over time just watch to see how God uses them.

I have a feeling that this, in part, is how we grow deeper in our spiritual lives. Likewise, I would not be too surprised to find out that when we give in to our need to blurt out all of these holy things to anyone within earshot, we have spent the entire capital of that experience, and it will go no further than that. Thomas A` Kempis once wrote,

How pleasant, how delightful, to sit alone and in silence, to converse with God, and so to enjoy the only chief good, in whom all good things are found!

Some of the things that may happen in your life this week will be of a truly rich nature. Ask God for the wisdom to discern if that experience is of the kind that should simply be treasured and pondered in your heart.

Something to think about, isn’t it!

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, teach me to understand the difference between the things that need to be shared and those experiences that are so rich that they are meant only to be shared between you and me.
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God Will Never Forget You

Just One of the Many Great Things About God

If you are reading these words today and feeling that God has forgotten you, thank God you’re wrong! The fact is, you have his undivided attention. And while your circumstances and your feelings may lead you to believe that you are being neglected, the truth is, God is at work on your behalf. So just be faithful, for God often gives us in one brief moment that which for a long time he has withheld.

The Journey: Luke 1:67-68

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.”

Over the years the church has given Zechariah’s song the title, “The Benedictus,” or The Blessing. The lyrics of this brief song, which we read in verses 67-79, were sung by one of the proudest and oldest first time fathers of all time. But more than being just a happy little ditty from a happy ol’ daddy, Zechariah verbalizes two timeless and timely truths about God’s character that you and I probably need to hear again today.

First, we are reminded that God never breaks a promise! John’s birth was living proof of God’s faithfulness. In his song, Zechariah belts out to all who will listen, “Blessings on the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has turned his face towards his people and has set them free!” (v. 68. J.B. Phillips)

God keeps his promises—every one of them. He can’t help himself; it is just his nature. He had promised through the prophets a redeemer for Israel hundreds of year before, and 400 silent years had passed since the last prophet Malachi had uttered the oracles of God until the time the angel Gabriel revealed God’s plan to Zechariah. Though God’s promise had been ever so slow in coming, it was nonetheless fulfilled.

Zechariah’s song reminds us that even though God may be slow, he is never late!

Second, God never forgets. The name “Zechariah” meant “God remembers”. And in his song Zechariah exploded with the joyful realization that God does remember: “God has remembered his oath…” (vv. 72-73)

Zechariah must have been discouraged. He was a priest of a nation that had turned its back on God. He and Elizabeth, whose name meant “the promise of God”, had been faithful to God all their lives—they had lived up to the meaning of their names. Yet God had neither blessed them with a son nor had wayward Israel been delivered from its oppressive foreign enemies.

Yet Zechariah clung to this truth: Our Creator remembers! God knows who we are, where we are and what we need. He remembers us. He remembers his promises, and God graciously acts at the proper time. Perhaps Zechariah remember the words of Isaiah 49:15-16,

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

God can’t forget!

You may remember the name of Tom Sutherland. He was taken hostage by radicals in the Middle East and held in captivity for four years in the mid 1980’s, mostly in solitary confinement. He existed in deep darkness during that long ordeal. Sometimes he could hear is captor’s radio when they tuned it to the BBC, and Tom would listen intently hoping and praying to hear his name mentioned on a newscast. But he never heard it, so he figured that people back home didn’t even know he was alive, much less imprisoned.

Finally, Tom was released. He flew back to the US and landed in San Francisco, and he was amazed as he got off the plane to see a huge crowd, people waving signs, cameras, reporters, and TV lights. He turned to his wife and said, “There must have been a famous person on this plane with us. See if you can spot them.”

She said, “Tom, they’re all here for you!” At that, Tom broke down and cried like a baby.

After he regained his composure, he said, “I thought everybody had forgotten me…I felt abandoned…I didn’t think anybody cared. Thank God I was wrong.”

If you are reading these words today and feeling a little forgotten by God, thank God you’re wrong! Zechariah reminds you from first-hand experience through his song that God remembers you and will fulfill every single one of his promises to you at the proper time! As Thomas A` Kempis said, “God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.”

So be faithful!

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, I choose to believe in you, I choose to trust your timing, I choose to declare your love, and I choose to wait patiently for your answer.
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Your Confidence In The Authority Of God’s Word

The B.I.B.L.E – Yes, You Can Stand Upon The Word Of God

Do you want indestructible joy, unshakeable faith, and unyielding security in your life? Make the Bible your all-sufficient, all-consuming standard of faith and conduct. Psalm 119:89 says, “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Stay faithful to God’s Word. Read it every day with an open-mind and a willing spirit, and God will speak to you through the pages, and as you obey it, he will direct your steps along the paths of righteousness all the days of your life.

The Journey: Luke 1:1-4

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

I think it is not only very interesting, but quite instructive, the great lengths Luke went to in setting up the veracity of his account of the life, ministry, miracles, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He wrote his gospel initially for a Gentile seeker by the name of Theophilus, and he wanted to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that his witness to all that was Jesus was believable, verifiable, and worthy to stake one’s life and eternity upon.

And, by the way, each of the biblical writers had the same motive in their painstaking effort to write the truth about God and from God that is contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible. The Apostle Paul stated it the most forcefully,

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Unfortunately, we live in an age when the cultural (and godless) philosophies of secularism and relativism are trying to do away with any transcendent source of truth, in particular the Word of God. And even worse, a growing number of so-called Christians are buying into those philosophies. But here is the cost of not having any values and standards of truth: the culture will collapse…or be held in the bondage of darkness, ignorance and satanic domination. The divorce rate will soar, violence and abuse will escalate, children will rebel, families will collapse and as a result, society will rot.

It shouldn’t surprise us that this is the very condition our society now finds itself in as a result of rejecting the Bible as our God-breathed sources of truth. Look at what God’s Word predicted a long time ago:

  • Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is ignorance of God, crime runs wild.”
  • Isaiah 5:20 prophesied, “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark.”
  • Proverbs 29:18 gives this sobering reminder: “A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order.”

All of that is happening right before our eyes. Even before the Proverbs were penned and Isaiah prophesied, the Psalmist asked, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

There is way you can have an unshakeable faith that endures and thrives during chaotic and insecure times. Jesus said you can “know the truth and the truth will set you free.” There is truth, it is knowable, and when it’s fully embraced will give you ultimate freedom.

And the very first step toward an enduring faith and unlimited freedom is for you to make the Word of God your standard of faith and practice!

Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” When Christians reject the sinful and godless practices of their culture and begin to build their lives on the B-I-B-L-E, the one & only standard of truth, blessings come to the nation and people find their way to Christ and eternal life. Paul reminded Timothy, “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15 Msg.) Make the Bible your standard of faith and practice and here’s what you’ll get:

  1. It will reveal God’s plan and power for your salvation. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
  2. It will provide nourishment for your spiritual growth. (Without it…spiritual crisis) 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
  3. It will guide you in these chaotic times. Psalm 119:105 & 130 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
  4. It will provide your defense against the devil’s attack. Ephesians 6:17 exhorts, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
  5. It will train you in righteousness. Psalm 119:9, 11 points out, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Hebrews 4:12 teaches, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”
  6. It will give you an eternal perspective. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Timothy Dwight said, “The Bible is a window in this prison-world, through which we may look into eternity.”
  7. It will be a source of indestructible joy. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart’s delight.”

Do you want indestructible joy, unshakeable faith, security and satisfaction in your life? Make the Bible your all-sufficient, all-consuming standard of faith and conduct. Psalm 119:89 tells us, “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” I love the Apostle Paul’s words to his protégé, Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-16,

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Did you catch that? The Holy Scripture is able to make you wise for salvation. In other words, there is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul also says that it is through the Scripture that you are equipped for every good work—it is through the Word of God that you are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for you to do.

Stay faithful to God’s Word. Read it every day with an open-mind and a willing spirit as you allow God speak to you through the pages of his Holy Word. As you spend time with the Bible, let me suggest the following that will enable you to have a life changing encounter with God:

  • Meditate on it! Don’t just read it to get through it—spend time letting it soak into your spirit.
  • Memorize it! The Psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
  • Master it! Be a student of the Bible. Get a graduate degree in Scripture. As Paul said to Timothy, “Study to show yourself a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
  • Minister it! Do something with it. Apply it in your everyday life. As James said, “Don’t merely listen to the word. Do what it says!” (James 1:22)

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, I believe your Word. The B.I.B.L.E is the book for me. I will stand upon your Word each and every day from here until the day you call me home.
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Signs

Supernatural Power Is Promised To Every Believer

Casting out demons, speaking in tongues, handling snakes, drinking deadly poison without harm, healing the sick—scripture promises those supernatural signs to Christ-followers. Miraculous signs, Jesus said, will accompany believers today! Now don’t get hung up on the individual signs. I am not proposing that we become snake-handlers (although tossing a rattler into the congregation would certainly pep up a lot of church services and likely boost attendance, at least for a while). Nor am I proposing that rat poison smoothies be on the menu at your church’s coffee bar. I remember Jesus saying that we’re not to foolishly test the Lord our God, so we probably ought to keep that in mind! But since miracles are part and parcel of the Kingdom, since they are promised to believers, since they are taking place in the world today, then I think it is reasonable that we should desire them here in America, in your church and mine, and in your life and mine as well.

The Journey: Mark 16:17-18

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.

The footnote in your Bible says Mark 16:9-20 doesn’t appear in the earliest known manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel. In light of that, I am not sure how you feel about the words of Jesus recorded here, but I happen to believe that Jesus actually said them—and that he meant them. Jesus wanted us to fully understand that he expected the very same miraculous signs that authenticated his authority to attend the witness of his followers, validating their testimony as well—not only in the first century, but in the twenty-first century.

Now some Bible scholars believe that this section of verses (Mark 16: 9-20) was not in Mark’s original manuscript. The reason is that these verses are not found in the earliest and best Greek manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel. Their thought is that since well-intentioned church leaders added to Mark’s words a couple of centuries later, no doctrines should be built upon these verses. However, scholars who doubt the authenticity of these verses will invariably add that what verses 9-20 say is affirmed elsewhere in Scripture, therefore we should not completely disregard them.

So back to my point: If Scripture promises supernatural power for Christ-followers, then miraculous signs should be accompanying believers today! Now don’t get hung up on the individual signs. I am not proposing that we become snake-handlers (although tossing a rattler into the congregation would certainly pep up a lot of church services and likely boost attendance, at least for a while). Nor am I proposing that rat poison smoothies be on the menu at your church’s coffee bar. I remember Jesus saying that we’re not to foolishly test the Lord our God. We probably ought to keep that in mind!

But I am saying that we ought to be expecting, and experiencing miracles in our midst today. And in many places around the world, miraculous signs are following Christians, even as we speak—usually in areas where people are desperate for God and believers are depending on his intervention just to stay alive. Yes, miraculous signs are accompanying those who believe…today…in the twenty-first century…right here on Planet Earth!

Since miracles are part and parcel of the Kingdom of God, since they are promised to believers, since they are taking place in the world today, then I think it is reasonable that we should desire them here in America, in your church and mine, and in your life and mine as well. I may be crazy, but until God shows me otherwise, I am going to keep asking for them. Not that I want them as some sort of crowd boosting gimmick, nor do I want them to bring attention to me or my church. I simply want them as an authentication of the kingdom, power and glory of God revealed among his people before a watching world!

I think it’s only fair, since Jesus promised them.

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, restore Christ’s authority and power to your people, to your church and its leaders, and to my life—sooner rather than later.
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Get Your Preach On

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

Remember, your mission is simply to share what Jesus has done for you. You see, there is no more powerful witness than that of a satisfied customer. As D.T. Niles said, “Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” And by the way, Jesus charged you only with going and sharing, the results of your sharing are up to the Holy Spirit.

The Journey: Mark 16:15-16

Jesus told his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

You may recall the television show from years ago called Mission Impossible. It always began with a scene in which Mr. Phelps, leader of a team of government spooks, would receive a tape describing his next mission. The tape usually began with the line, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Then, after describing the mission, the tape would self-destruct in a puff of smoke.

For the believer, Jesus’ command here at the end of Mark’s Gospel is our mission. From a human point of view, it is “mission impossible.” But because it was given by Jesus, empowered by Jesus, and would be attended by Jesus as his followers went forth to do it (“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” Matt. 28:20), it truly was, and is, “mission possible.” But unlike Mr. Phelps, we don’t have the option of accepting it. If you desire to be a Christ-follower, you will do this.

Remember, your mission is simply to share what Jesus has done for you. There is no more powerful witness than a satisfied customer. By the way, Jesus charged you only with going and sharing, the results are up to the Holy Spirit. As Elton Trueblood said, “Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus.”

The mission is very clear and quite simple: Take the Good News with you wherever you go and share it. What is the Good News? That at the cross, through Jesus every human being can find that they are beloved of God, without exception. “Preaching” that message is the mission of the Christian.

Don’t let the word “preach” trip you up. For sure, the Gospel is to be formally preached by preachers from pulpits in church services and by evangelists to great crowds of listeners. But the word “preach” has a simpler application as well. It simply means “to proclaim.”

Proclamation can happen in both formal presentations as well as informal conversations. I think the church has done pretty good job in the formal aspect of this mission. It is the informal, everyday part of the mission to be carried out by the individual believer where we have not done so well.

The mission of the Christian is proclamation. You and I are tasked to go and tell the story of Jesus. That is our business.

So that begs the question: How’s business? When was the last time you talked about your faith in Christ in a casual conversation with a friend or a co-worker? In the last six months? This past year? In the last five years? Have you ever shared Christ with another?

Don’t you think it’s time we get back to business? I do!

How about you and I look for opportunities today to carry out the mission! Jesus is counting on us. So let’s get our “preach” on!

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, give me open doors and courageous faith to do what I’m supposed to do: tell others what Jesus has done for me.
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God-Forsaken Places

He Endured The Cross For You

It was high noon in Jerusalem, yet it was pitch black. With the cross as ground zero, our planet became a God-forsaken place as the Father turned his back, and the sun retreated from its place in the sky. As Jesus willingly hung on the cross, taking into his own life all the evil, vile sin-filth of mankind, God couldn’t watch. The Father was forced to treat his Son as an enemy; his righteous wrath was poured out on him as the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. In that awful, beautiful moment, Jesus became God’s enemy so you could become God’s friend.

The Journey: Mark 15:33-34

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Frederick the Great, was the King of Prussia for almost a half century in the 1700’s. He was in Potsdam when he encountered one of his generals, who was in his severe disfavor. At their meeting the general saluted with the greatest respect, but Frederick abruptly turned his back on the officer. To that, the general humbly said, “I am happy to see that Your Majesty is no longer angry with me.”

That got Frederick’s attention, so he turned and asked, “How so?”

The general responded, “Because Your Majesty has never in his life turned his back on an enemy.”

It was said that the general’s daring statement led to his reconciliation with Frederick.

There was another time in a far more important place when God turned his back on his very own Son as Jesus hung on the cross. That’s why Jerusalem, right in the middle of the day, went pitch black. In that awful moment, with the cross as Ground Zero, our planet became a God-forsaken place. With Jesus willingly hanging on the cross, taking into his own life all the evil, vile sin-filth of mankind, God couldn’t watch. The Father was forced to treat his Son as an enemy; his righteous wrath was poured out on him as he hung on that cross. Jesus became God’s enemy and paid the price of reconciliation so you could become God’s friend.

On the cross, Jesus took on your sins and mine—he became sin for us. It was our sin, the sins of the whole world, that he bore on the tree, and it was that sin at which God’s righteous anger was directed. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21,

For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

What a beautifully simple yet unfathomable truth: Christ’s death on the cross was the only means to our reconciliation with God. Jesus paid the ultimate price to satisfy God’s righteous wrath and bring us peace with God. We who were enemies were brought near to God, now as friends. Martin Luther wrote,

Christ took our sins and the sins of the whole world as well as the Father’s wrath on his shoulders, and he has drowned them both in himself so that we are thereby reconciled to God and become completely righteous.”

For Jesus, the cross was a God-forsaken place. Hallelujah for God-forsaken places!

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for my salvation, so rich, so free.
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Oops I Did It Again

Free Grace Goes Into The Gutter and Brings Up A Jewell

Why are Peter’s blunders featured so prominently in the gospels? To remind us that by the power of the resurrection, failure doesn’t have to be final and sin does not have to be fatal. As John Newton wrote, “We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage.” “Oops, I did it again” doesn’t get the final word on you. God’s grace does. Jesus made sure of that at the cross!

The Journey: Mark 14:71-72

Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.

Poor Peter! He can’t seem to catch a break.

He is the guy who boldly stepped out of the boat to walk on the water—and promptly sank like a rock. He was the one who inappropriately blurted out, “Hey, let’s build three tabernacles” when Jesus was talking about his impending death with Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was the first to declare, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” but within seconds was sternly rebuked when Jesus said, “Satan, get behind me, you are an offense to me.” Now, at the Last Supper, Peter blurts out, “if all else fall away, I never will”, but within hours he had denied Jesus three times!

Interestingly, each of the four Gospel writers—Peter’s brothers in Christ— have no problem recording Peter’s failures, particularly his denial of Jesus, in exacting detail, to be read again and again throughout the ages.

Peter’s blunder is like those sports bloopers of athletes blowing their teams chances for victory that get replayed over and over again on TV. Remember the poor guy name Steve Bartman, a Chicago Cubs’ fan who interfered with a Cub’s outfielder trying to catch a fly ball. The Cubs were in the playoffs for the first time in, like forever, and if they won, they would go to the World Series. And this over-zealous fan reaches out and takes a foul ball away from his own player, and the Cubs lose. That faux pas will be replayed on TV forever.

So will Peter’s denial. But thankfully, the story doesn’t end with this fireside blooper. If you take a sneak-peak at the end of the story in Mark 16:7, after the crucifixion, when the women came early in the morning to the tomb on Easter Sunday, an angel at the entrance of the empty tomb gave them this message,

But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that Jesus is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. (Mark 16:7)

Did you notice the specific reference to Peter? “Tell the disciples…and you especially need to tell Peter!”

Why did Mark add this line? He specifically wanted Peter, and by extension, you and me, to know that the cross covers the worst of our failures, and by the cross God takes the initiative to restore us to full fellowship with himself. That is really the core message of the Gospel! Peter’s blunder forever reminds us that by the power of the resurrection, failure doesn’t have to be final and sin does not have to be fatal. As John Newton wrote, “We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage.”

“Oops, I did it again” doesn’t get the final word on you. God’s grace does. Jesus made sure of that at the cross!

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, thank you for your great grace that is greater than all my sin. Thank you, thank you, thank you.