15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”……..
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
Are you going to let past failures hamper your future? What defines you? Do you focus on your failures or on your successes? One of the biggest epic failures ever was Peter denying Christ. He didn’t do it once; he did it three times the same night! Epic failure! And it was recorded so we read of it two thousand plus years later.
God seems to talk in threes. “You will deny me three times.” “Feed my sheep.” “I am the Lord your God.” When it is important, the Lord tells us repeatedly. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny Him three times. Jesus knows the future and knew of the denials. And yet, Jesus also knew the He would build His Church on the Rock called Peter. Peter knew as soon as he heard the rooster that he had failed miserably and he focused on that failure. But Christ looked into the future to see the fire and passion that would emanate from Cephas as soon as he sorted it all out. We have the Bible and hindsight to show us that Jesus was the Christ and that the prophecies were true. Peter did not. And the claims of the prophecies were way beyond possible as Peter saw them. Jesus knew that, given time to understand, Peter would take the good news of God’s grace to the world. Jesus believed in Peter! Too bad Peter didn’t believe in himself.
What about you? We all struggle with belief in ourselves. We don’t always understand the gifts that God has placed within us. Are you a winner or a loser? Who determines that? Do you focus on your successes or do you dwell on your failures? God has a great destiny for you and has equipped you with everything you need to achieve that destiny. If you focus on your failures, you won’t reach your destiny. So what will you do? Will you use the gifts He has given you or will you focus on all the reasons why not? You are equipped, empowered, anointed, gifted, capable, favored, and destined for greatness. The battle is in your mind. Why not allow God to be your encourager and believe what He says? Then, you will be the success that He destines.
Father, You have equipped us for great things but we focus on what we cannot do. You have given us gifts and talents for our destiny and we ignore them. By Your Spirit, break the chains that bind us in disbelief and carry us to where You planned us to go. Let our success in Your eyes be great and bring glory to Your Holy Name. In Jesus name we pray!