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Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.Luke 22:31-32
I’d failed. My actions completely went against everything that I stood for and believed. The worst part about it is, it wasn’t just me that I hurt but those around me as well.
Have you ever failed so badly that you didn’t think you could continue on in life? Maybe it was a destroyed relationship. Maybe it was making a decision that cost you your job or career. Maybe it was living a double life and the hidden part was revealed.
One of my favorite Bible characters is Peter. A close friend of Jesus, he was given every opportunity to be a strong leader. Yet with everything that he had going for him, Peter failed Jesus miserably.
But that’s not the end of the story. Jesus warned Peter that he would fail him. Jesus is never surprised by our failures.
Even though Jesus knew Peter would fail, he made Peter a promise. He promised Peter that when (not if) he returned, Jesus had a place for him in the kingdom. By doing so, Jesus made a statement concerning Peters value.
You see, our value is never placed on our ability to live for Jesus. Our value comes because of what Jesus does for us.
Being sifted like wheat hurts. It can leave lasting scars. But being sifted, like wheat also means the stuff we don’t need, the chaff is removed, and the most important part of us is preserved.
Don’t allow your defeats to determine your destination. Your value is not in your failures, but in your Savoir. He’s praying for you, and he has the power to restore you, so you can be the best that you can be.
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:7
I used to work at a local convenience store. One of the things this store prided itself on was hot, fresh coffee. In order to assure customers this was true, a timer would go off every 30 minutes. This was our cue as employees to head back to the coffee area, check the product and turn off the timer.
I no longer work there, but frequent the store often and, on occasion, will be there when the timer goes off. Whenever that timer goes off (at this store or any of the others in the chain) my mind tells me to check the coffee and turn off the timer! Then, I remind myself that I’m no longer answerable to that call. It has no authority over me. I’m free!
This is a simple example of sin in our lives. Before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we acted a certain way, used certain words and involved ourselves in certain activities.
Once we accepted Christ, and began growing in His word through personal study, and corporate worship/teaching, we began to realize that some of the words, actions and activities we involved ourselves in didn’t please God and weren’t a good example to the world around us.
Because we love Jesus, and because our love should drive us to following His word, our desire is to change. But, if you haven’t noticed, there’s a problem.
We are still tempted to use language that doesn’t build others up. We gossip, curse, lie and stretch the truth (which is really a lie by the way).
Our minds take us to places and thoughts we know displease our Savior, and often our bodies follow!
We doubt and worry even though we know God’s promised to see us through every adversity.
We still enjoy certain activities even though we realize this isn’t a place we should be hanging out at because we bear the name of Jesus.
It’s like that crazy timer at the convenience store. We hear the call and have a choice to make. Do we respond or remove ourselves from the situation.
The bad news is, as long as we are alive we will be attacked by the cursed timer, calling us to the old life.
The good news is that through the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist the call. It may not come all at once. It may be a struggle that hounds you for a long time. But through Jesus, victory is yours. Keep trying.
Don’t let failure discourage you, even the best of Jesus followers struggle. He’s willing and ready to forgive. He’s more than able to give you the power to change those habits, those words and the desire to take part in those activities.
Through Jesus you are free!
I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. John 12:47
I have a confession to make. Sometimes I have a hard time telling people that I am a Christian. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Jesus with all my heart. I believe him to be the Messiah, the son of the living God. I believe in his death, resurrection and that he is coming again. I believe that he has forgiven all of my sins past present and future. I believe the Bible to be the written, inspired and inerrant word of God.
So why do I sometimes hesitate to tell people I’m a Christian you ask? Because people naturally tend to label each other according to their beliefs, opinions or actions.
Humanity is, by nature, a very judgmental people. We tend to label people by their lifestyle, their political opinions, the political party they belong to, the version of the Bible they read, and the church they attend among many other things.
It’s sad to say, but many times we label people according to their sin. We may say, he’s an addict. We don’t say that he has a problem with addiction. It may sound the same, but the attitude is different.
I could go on about the many other ways that we put labels on people. Labeling people is really just a form of judgment.
It’s interesting, that Jesus says He doesn’t judge those who disobey him. While we tend to judge people if they disobey God, or if they hurt us. Jesus doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t label people!
He did not come to judge people. He came to show people life. He came to show them a better way. He came to be their light in the darkness.
One time after saying grace before our meal at a fast food restaurant, we were approached by a homeless man. I have to admit, I was very judgmental. I was angry. I wanted to have a quiet meal with my family, not be asked for money by a homeless vagrant.
I know, terrible of me, right? But it gets worse. He came up to me and told me how happy he was to see someone thanking Jesus for their food before eating in public.
He struggled with addiction. He struggled with mental illness. Yet in that short time, he let us know he loved Jesus.
So, who have you judged lately? What labels do you put on those people that are different than you? Are they the labels that Jesus would put on them? Are they labels of love or are they labels of judgment? He calls us to love all people regardless of their struggles.
The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.” Psalms 132:11
A friend of mine was promised an important position in the business he worked for by its owner once he retired. Unfortunately, the owner died unexpectedly leaving the business to family members. When he told them of the promise the owner had made, none of them knew about it or believed him. In fact, upon mentioning the promised position, his position was terminated and he was sent packing.
There’s an old saying, “A promise is only as good as the person making the promise.” There tends to be a lot of truth to that statement. It’s easy to make promises, but making good on those promises? That’s another story. We see that every election season. Promises made to get a vote don’t often result in fulfillment.
The promises of man are fickle, but the promises God gives us can be counted on to be true. The number of promises God gives us is up for conjecture. Suffice it to say there are many.
Psalm 132, is one example of a promise God gave to King David. God promises that David’s throne would last forever and that there would be one to sit on it that would be an eternal King. We know this promise is fulfilled through Jesus Christ. God’s promises are something we can count on for eternity.
But let’s take a closer look at that promise. David was called a man after God’s own heart and it’s because of this that he was promised his throne would be eternal.
The real beauty doesn’t lie in the promise itself, but in what happens after this promise was made. Although David was considered a ‘man after God’s own heart’ he certainly wasn’t perfect. In fact, in many areas he failed miserably. He was a lousy husband, a distant father, a murderer, a bad friend, and the list goes on.
Following David to the throne throughout history, we see a line of Kings guilty of murder, incest, rape, violence, idolatry and rebellion.
But God’s promise, inspite of man’s rebellion held true. He promised messiah would come from David’s lineage and that’s exactly what happened, in spite of the failure of men.
The beauty of God’s promises is that they are not dependent on our performance or character. They are dependent on his power to forgive, love and extend mercy to us knowing full well that we will fail. The struggles we go through now won’t change our destiny. Our problems don’t affect God’s promises. We can count on him!
Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. Isaiah 43:7
What’s your story? You have one you know. We all do. They may not be on the written page, but they are written on your heart and most likely on the hearts of many around you.
Everyday you write a chapter. Some may be mundane. Some you may revisit because they are exciting. Others you wish you could erase, but you can’t.
The thing about stories is they are written to bring glory to the author. No one spends days and weeks and months writing a book they don’t want published. Every aspiring author dreams of being on the ‘New York Times Best Sellers List’. Quite honestly, stories are written for the glory of the author.
So let me ask again, what’s your story? Is it one you’d like to keep buried on the closet shelf?
What if you could rewrite the story of you? What if each word, each page, each chapter was, well, enjoyable. You know, the kind of story you can’t put down, that you can’t wait to read the ending.
Here’s the good news. Your story can be rewritten. Not by you, but by the most creative person who ever existed!
By putting your faith in Jesus, God the Father calls you to Himself. Why? Because you are a story that brings Him glory.
There’s nothing you can do to earn it. He doesn’t expect you to do anything but accept his gift of a story that’s creative and fulfilled.
Ever read a story that has a counter plot. You know the kind where the hero or heroin is well on the way to victory but the villain in the story is trying to sabotage him or her.
Yeah, that’s your story too. But wait to the end. You win! And when you win, you bring glory to the author, God the Father.
Let Him write your story!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 