JOHN 21:1-3 – “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

JOHN 21:15-17 – “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.””

THEME OF THE DAY:  FAILURE AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.   I was meeting with a fellow believer this week and we discussed the wonderful, yet mysterious ways, the Lord teaches us the invaluable lessons in the Christian life.  We talked about impactful bible studies, sermons, and books.  Also, we added the fellowship with mature Christians.

The conversation then went further to identify what is one of the most powerful and transforming experiences in our lives that God uses for immeasurable good.  That experience?  It is what transformed Peter and it hurt. And it should hurt. Transformation from what we are to what God would have us to be, reflections of His Son, is difficult and painful because we are so much not like Him!

So, what is this experience?  Failure.  We will learn about ourselves, the amazing grace of God, and His wonderful ways of working in our lives more by failure than any other means. Now enter Peter as our “case study” on how failure works for our good.

In the opening of John’s gospel, chapter twenty-one, Peter makes this statement, “I am going fishing.”  This wasn’t Peter deciding to take a little time off and go fishing.  No, he is hurting.  He denied his Lord publicly and the shame, regret, and remorse weighed his heart down like a two-ton anchor.  We may read his thoughts about now. He is talking to himself like this, “I blew it when it came to being a disciple of Jesus.  I failed. I failed miserably. I am washed up, but I know one thing, I can fish. I can go back to what I do well.”  Notice at the end of this section of scripture – “They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”  No, Peter, you cannot go back to your old and comfortable ways.  That is history. You are going to be a fisher of men and a choice leader to bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus to the world.  Your failure did not define or shelf you.  It shaped you. It brought needed humility into your life.

The second portion of scripture in today’s devotion shows the compassion of Jesus restoring Peter.  No indictment of his failure. No, “I told you so”.  Only restoration, and Peter would never be the same because of his failure.  And it will be so for us too!  The Lord won’t write us off because of our many failings. He will teach and mold us through our many failings.  Just like He did Peter. Don’t listen to Satan’s lies. Failure doesn’t define us. God’s grace in placing us in Christ defines us.

PRAYER: Father, thank You that You use all things in my life for good including my many failings.

REFLECTION:  Let our failures do the necessary work of humbling us and deepening our dependency on God.