Ever feel like you just can’t get ‘it’ right?  You find yourself making mistake after mistake?  Been there, done that.  At times I feel useless. I find myself struggling with my emotions, anxiety, and thoughts while worrying over things that don’t deserve my brain power or time.  The root of my issue, I believe, comes from my passion for life.  I like to get things right.  I take pride in doing things with excellence.  Along those same lines my ‘passion’ gets me in trouble.  In many situations I jump to conclusions before thinking things through.  I’m opinionated and I speak out while failing to bathe my words in love, grace, and mercy.  As I was doing a little studying this week I found myself identifying with someone from the Bible.  Peter.  Man, he was a screw-up.  It’s almost comical how much of myself I see in him.  If he made a mistake it was a BIG one!  But I also admire how he lived his life with ‘gusto.’  I identify with his passion for knowledge.  He spoke out and questioned Jesus on many issues, I believe, because he truly had a desire to understand the mysteries of God.  When he set his mind to do something he was steadfast and dependable.  He lived up to his name.  Good or bad he was, as Jesus changed his name to reflect, a rock. [Matt. 16:8]

While reading through the book of Mark recently something stuck out to me that I hadn’t considered before.  In chapter 16 we find Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome coming to anoint the body of Christ after his death.  When they arrive they find an open tomb and have an unplanned meeting with an angel.  The angel tells the women [v. 7], “”…But go, tell His disciples and Peter [emphasis is my own], ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'”  Why did He single out Peter?  ‘John the Beloved’ was the favored one—the teacher’s pet, if you will.  Wasn’t Peter a disciple as well?  I have no proof but I suspect Peter, driven by grief, guilt, and of his own volition had probably separated himself from the group following his denial of Christ.  For Peter this announcement was more than just a resurrection announcement.  I believe this was a reminder to Peter of God’s love for him and forgiveness of what he had done.  Regardless of his mistake there was a redeeming love that was calling out to him.  That love was beckoning him to leave his past and concentrate on his future.  A love that was encouraging him to, as Isaiah 43 states, turn away from the former and concentrate on the new thing that was springing forth.    After the ascension, Peter took his part of the world by storm.  He used his mistakes as fuel to do better….to be better.  I want to remind you today that you’re never ‘just another screw-up’ to God.  When God looks at you it’s from the eyes of a Father.  Those eyes glare at you with love and excitement.  He knows your potential and ability and wants the best for you.  Mistakes or not, you’re His child.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  It doesn’t matter if you’re the ‘passionate’ type or the ‘apprehensive’ type.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a dreamer or prefer employing logic in your decision making.  Each person plays their own part in the kingdom.  Each part of the body of Christ is just as important as another.  Bottom line-He forgives, loves, and forgets the past…..and you should to.