MUDDY FAILURE FOOTPRINTS
Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.
John 21:3: “‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
Another failure.
“I feel crappy!” twelve-year-old Jeremy whined to his best friend, Brad.
“What’s up?” Brad asked as they left football practice together.
“Didn’t you see my awful failed block? Coach won’t pick me to play tight end now!”
Brad did see Jeremy’s failed block. He replied, “Yeah, I admit that you looked pretty bad. Don’t we practice to get better?”
People rarely get things right the first, second, or even the third time. What’s important is how we respond afterwards. Do we drop our heads after failure or do we believe that Jesus can help us do better?
Jesus warned Peter in Luke 22:31: “Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.”
Uh oh! How often does he ask Jesus to do that to us?
But Jesus offers Peter hope in verse 32: “But I have prayed for you, Simon [Peter], that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Even despite Jesus’ warning, Peter failed Jesus miserably. Luke 22:34 shows what Jesus predicted, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Luke records Peter’s failure in chapter 22, verses 60-61. When another person accused Peter that he was with Jesus, Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” As Peter was speaking, “the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”
After denying Jesus three times, Peter felt crappy. Luke 22:62 says, “And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
See the lesson linked below to see how Jesus helped Peter. Peter didn’t lose his faith. He lost his pride. Jesus knew that Peter must lose his self-confidence and have his heart broken. Only then could he become a strong, yet humble leader in God’s kingdom.
In like fashion, our Lord also uses our muddy failure footprints to prepare us to be effective servants in His kingdom. Our failures prove that pride is a joke. We become more humble and willing to grow past our self-sufficiency.
Take Home Nugget
As they passed the swimming pool, Brad offered, “This ticket can get you in to swim with me. Do you want to cool down?”
Jeremy smiled. “Thanks, Brad!” As they traipsed inside the swimming pool entrance, Jeremy noticed his trail of his muddy failure footprints. He decided to refresh himself in the cool water and practice better next time.
Holy Lord, If You must break me first, thanks for helping me rise again afterwards! Amen.
Adapted from “Triumph Through Failure” by Dr. Charles Stanley. April 15, 2018. In Touch Devotional Magazine. Georgia.
J.D. Griffith
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