Come follow me study 44 on failure

We started off by asking if there is a difference in the world's definition of failure vs the Christian's.The world's definition of failure is (a) lack of success or (b) neglect of expected action. Lack of success from a Christian perspective we concluded may not necessarily mean failure, it could be an opportunity to learn, an opportunity to be moulded that could lead to "success" in the future. By extension, winning may not always mean success in the eyes of a Christian. So while the definition of failure could be different, so the definition of success could also be different.

The text on Peter's denial was difficult to read. It was akin to watching a movie where you want the character to avoid failing but yet somehow he or she does to our dismay. Isn't that also many times how our lives are as well? We regret the decisions we make and think about what could have or should have been rather than living a life of constant victory. The question is why do we fail if sometimes the way to succeed is so obvious? We discussed here that we tend to trust in ourselves more than God, or perhaps we are not as close to God as we think we are or want to be. It is also very possible that we are more afraid of men then God that leads us to fail God.

In Peter's story we know that his failure was not the end of story. Peter was obviously devastated, Luke 22:62 says, "And he went out and wept bitterly." Peter we read also remembered that Jesus had already told him earlier that this would happened. I don't think this would have comforted him alot since he exactly was trying to refute Jesus earlier. I think this only made him feel how big a failure he must be. However, our God is a God of hope and short memory when it comes to our failures. Let's read what is written in Mic 7:18 — 19:

"God's Steadfast Love and Compassion

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression

for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

because he delights in steadfast love.

He will again have compassion on us;

he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins

into the depths of the sea."

Ultimately, Jesus prayer was what kept Peter from falling away completely, we read in Luke 22:31 — 32, "Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”" What mercy and grace is shown to Peter! Later on in John 21:15 - 19, we read of how Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Jesus, Peter was "grieved" the third time Jesus asked the same question. Why ask three times? Perhaps to "undo" Peter's three denials earlier. Or perhaps it is Jesus giving Peter an opportunity to confess how he feels and to reaffirm his calling to follow Jesus.

So we see here a pattern of how one's failure is used by God for something beautiful and I believe for Peter it also strengthened his character. In the same way, we can recognise that we have all failed, not once but various times in various circumstances, but we can look to the one that did not fail in God's eyes because he was obedient to the end, even to death on the cross. Is Jesus praying for us like he did for Peter? Hebrews 7:25 reminds us that Jesus is "able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." 

Jesus is "the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." This does not mean we do nothing to prevent failures but let us rest in the knowledge Jesus is praying for us and let our motivation to succeed be the joy we have in Christ. In Christ, our failures are turned into successes!