Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
As the rooster crowed a second time, Peter broke down and wept. He had denied knowing Jesus just before the crucifixion.
Do our mistakes catch God by surprise? Have our sins taken us too far away from the grace of God?
Who was Peter?
Peter was one of the most courageous disciples. From stepping out of the boat and walking on water to chopping off the ear of the high priest’s servant when Jesus’ arrest was imminent, Peter often thought about consequences much after performing his actions.
The Denial
Probably the only time he thought about the consequences prior to his actions was when he passionately declared that he would not deny Jesus. In fact, he went on to tell Jesus that he would die with Him if need be, but denying Him was out of the question.
A few hours later, Peter stood outside the gate and watched secretly as Jesus was manhandled and tortured by the Jews and Romans. When people around recognized him and asked if he was one of the disciples, he denied it with as much passion as he had displayed when he told Jesus that he wouldn’t deny Him.
Like clockwork, the rooster crowed a second time and Peter realized that Jesus’ words had come to pass. He cried bitterly because he could not see any way to make things right. It was probably the worst day of his life and things only went downhill from there. Jesus was crucified, and with that all hope of reconciliation was lost.
Or was it?
The Revival
Do you remember what the angel told Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome when they visited the tomb on resurrection day?
The angel said, “He has been raised. He isn’t here. Look, here’s the place where they laid Him. Go, tell His disciples, especially Peter, that He is going ahead of you into Galilee.” – Mark 16:6-7
Isn’t that amazing? Peter went on to deliver the inaugural address at the birth of the new church – one that was founded on grace and not the law. His mistakes did not hinder him from fulfilling the destiny that God had planned for him.
Our Promise
Do you feel like you’ve moved so far away from God that there is no hope for you?
If Peter could not be drawn away from the destiny that God planned for him, even after the denial, there is not just hope, but assurance that no mistake we’ve made can keep us from what God has prepared for us!
As long as we respond to His call and stay in His presence, He will complete the good work that He has begun in our lives.
