What do we do when we fail?

Kia ora whānau,

We are all going to sin, to fall short of what God expects, but how do we handle it when it happens? Do we brush it off? Blame other people? Make excuses? Go into shame? Whip ourselves? Go over and over the events in our minds? Catastrophise? Talk to other people? Even pray?

The Bible is full of giants of the faith who sinned and yet they are honoured in the Hebrews hall of fame.

Two of Jesus’ close disciples betrayed Jesus within hours of each other. Judas, by leading the authorities to him for the price of 30 pieces of silver and Peter, by denying he knew him when Jesus was sentenced to death. Both were loved and trusted yet only one recognised Jesus as the Messiah, the Lord. Simon Peter went on to serve God for the rest of his life telling the world the good news. Judas, who regarded Jesus as teacher/rabbi, saw no hope of restoration, isolated himself, cut his life short and never saw the outcome that meant salvation for the whole world. We actually don’t know what Jesus would have said if Judas had repented and stayed in relationship with Jesus and his people, but he may have been welcomed, and we are in no position to judge.

In contrast, after immense regret and weeping bitter tears, Peter stayed with his friends and decided to go fishing. He went back to a time when he met Jesus and had memories of Jesus calling him. He went back to what he knew when there was so much he didn’t know. When Jesus gave him the opportunity to restore, Peter assured Jesus that he loved him (3 times).

My learning from Judas and Peter when we do wrong things is that there is always a way through if we come back to Jesus.

*We are more vulnerable than we think. God understands our mistakes, even our deliberate choices, as long as we involve him in the putting right. (memory hook:picture of a child - we know children are learning and are going to make mistakes)

*Go straight to Jesus when we get things wrong. Realise that Jesus is Lord, not just Rabbi. A teacher can’t forgive our sins but Jesus, the Lord, can forgive us, and turn the things we do wrong into something good. (memory hook: communion)

*Stay connected. Be with others, no matter how ashamed or guilty we feel. Ask people to pray with us. Be honest with others about our wrongs. (memory hook: necklace)

*Seek to restore as soon as we can. Put it right and make amends, no matter what the cost. (memory hook: glue)

*Make important decisions with others not alone. Pray hard, run it by others. (memory hook: voting slip)

*When things go wrong, when we sin or get it wrong, remind ourselves of our past experiences with Jesus. Go back to the last time we remember hearing from God - Peter went fishing because

he had lots of experiences of being with Jesus and fishing. (memory hook: fishing rod)

There’s always a way through with Jesus. Jesus will be waiting, no matter how bad the sin or wrong doing, to welcome us back.

- Ros Jaquiery