Have you ever made a mistake? How about more than one? Did you ever have a period of multiple mistakes? No matter how hard you try, mistakes abound. Despite a mistake or two or ten, there’s hope. With breath in our lungs, the recovery is possible. Our mistakes don’t have to be permanent for they can be simple commas in life. Unfortunately, there are some who will focus on our mistakes and attempt to limit our potential because of them. With God, our mistakes are the recovery method by which we see our need for God. Therefore, will we choose to allow our mistakes to define us or will they be the road to recovery?
The Story: Luke 22:54-65
In Luke 22:54-65, Peter watched from afar as the Pharisees arrested Jesus. A girl saw Peter and identified him as a follower of Jesus. Peter responded that he didn’t know Jesus. Moments later, another person exclaimed that he was one of the disciples. Still another person said that he and Jesus were Galileans so they must be together. Moment after moment, Peter denied the Messiah. After the cock crowed three times, Jesus looked at Peter, who suddenly recognized that he indeed denied Jesus as Jesus said he would.
The Lesson
I know people who read this passage wouldn’t classify Peter’s actions as mistakes. Some would call it a blatant disregard for Jesus. Others may say weakness or fear. I still say mistakes as the Oxford dictionary defines mistakes as “an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.” In Luke 22:31-62, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him. Peter admonished that he wouldn’t and how he would even go to prison with Jesus. He even cut off the ear of a soldier who came to arrest Jesus (Luke 22:50). However, when the time came to declare his allegiance, his actions were wrong; thus, a mistake.
One might consider his denial an egregious act and unforgiveable. Thankfully, Jesus isn’t like us. He knew what Peter would do, but He also had a plan for him. He determined that Peter was the ideal person to build His Church (Matthew 16:18). What a wonderful God we serve, who looks beyond our mistakes. So if Peter’s mistakes didn’t disqualify him, ours won’t either.
If we find ourselves making mistakes, we can go to God for forgiveness and redirection to the right path. God knows everything so He’s knows how to reset us. Therefore, we need to forgive ourselves. We acknowledge that we’re not perfect and that’s okay. Our imperfections shows our need for God and He’s ready to fill in for the places where we lack. As a result, He doesn’t expect perfection from us. We’re made perfect in Him (Hebrews 10:14). Therefore, we’re free from striving and we can rest in Him. As a result, our mistakes don’t define us and we can move forward in God’s purpose for us.
