Try, Try Again

This morning I started reading through the book of Acts. The book of Acts covers the 30 years after Jesus was taken up into heaven. 

As we recall Jesus’ last days on earth leading up to the book of Acts, we remember one of His disciples, Peter. Peter appears to be a confident man when he tells Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Jesus answers, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34).

Sure enough, Peter denies the Lord three times before the rooster crows. Upon hearing the rooster crow, Peter remembered the words of Jesus and he “went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62).

Imagine the shame and regret Peter must have felt in that moment. 

But he didn’t lay down and give up.

Luke, who recorded the above story, is also the author of the book of Acts. He begins the book of Acts by bringing Peter back into the story. He doesn’t give us a recap to remind us of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It’s as if Peter’s identity is no longer wrapped around his moment of shame and regret—because it’s not! 

When the day of Pentecost came “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).  There were God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem at this time. They were amazed and perplexed at what they were hearing since they all heard the disciples declaring the wonders of God in their own tongue. 

Guess who stood up, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd? You know it—it was Peter.

He wasn’t in a back room missing out on the promised gift of the Holy Spirit because he felt unworthy due to his earlier betrayal. He was probably MORE able to understand the mystery of the love of Jesus BECAUSE of his betrayal. He was very aware that without Jesus and without the Holy Spirit, he had nothing to offer. He was also able to recognize that WITH the Holy Spirit he could do great things for God.

In real life, we experience times of failure. Times when we don’t represent our Lord as we ought to. It’s when we acknowledge our sins and failures and weep bitter tears of repentance that we are restored and strengthened by the One who never fails. Our gracious Father doesn’t rub our noses in our failures but rather uses them to grow us more into the likeness and character of His Son.

Peter went on to reach many people for the Kingdom of God. He suffered and lived his life fully devoted to the works of his Lord. I’m sure he failed again and again in his humanity but he never gave up. His final breath was one of a martyr who had given ALL for his Lord.

Many have not yet heard the Good News. There is no time to waste sitting in our self imposed prisons of shame and regret. This same Holy Spirit that was promised to the disciples is also promised to each one of us.  “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call'” (Acts 2:38 & 39).

Stay the Course…

Sheila