Friday 6/6/14
Discussing some of the difficulties they had with their wives, one man told his friend: “Every time my wife and I have a disagreement, she gets historical.” His friend replied, “You mean hysterical, right?” “No”, he said, “I mean historical; she keeps reminding me of my past.” Do you have someone in your life like that poor fellow’s wife, who is constantly reminding you of your past mistakes and throwing them in your face? That corny joke came to mind last night as I was discussing some highlights of the 21st Chapter of John with my wife and daughter. It recounts the time when, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to some of His disciples at the edge of the Sea of Galilee, Peter included. We were reminded how blessed and grateful we are that the Lord never brings up our past failures, and may I add this: “If there ever is a time when a little voice within you keeps telling you that you have no business calling yourself a Christian due to the countless times you have failed the Lord, that is not the voice of God. In fact, it most likely is not the voice of your conscience either, but the voice of the devil. Revelation 12:10 says: And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, “now is come salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
The devil is a real devil! Since the beginning of time, he has managed to persuade many Christians to fall into sin and when they do, he immediately turns around and runs to God to accuse them. We don’t have to worry about that, however, because when Jesus went to the cross, he paid the debt for our sins past, present, and future. That is the reason He never brought up the subject of Peter’s three denials when he spoke to him again on Galilee’s shore, and that is the same reason He does not bring up our past mistakes either. That is one thing we can be extremely grateful for. Remember this: God is more interested in our present and in our future than in our past.
If you have failed the Lord and are still wallowing in your guilt and sorrow, get over it. Your not the first nor will you be the last that has fallen flat on your face. We’ve all been there but we’ve all been restored too. Shake off the dust and get back on track. That’s where the Lord wants to see you.
Memory verse for the week: (Galatians 6:2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
