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Week 4 - Day 4

A Spectacular Fail | Read

One of the beautiful things about the Gospel of Mark is that Peter is totally honest about the way things actually happened. He resists the urge to leave out his own failings and shortcomings so that we get a real picture of what faith looks like. It’s actually quite encouraging to realize that Peter and the other disciples failed completely. It gives us permission to be human, to be weak at times, to make mistakes, and to even fail. The Kingdom of God is full of real people who are all a work in progress. There’s no room for pretense or arrogance in a community of faith, where we are honest about our failures and shortcomings. We are all dependent on the grace and forgiveness of God, and every one of us needs a new start and a second chance.

Jesus didn’t set up demanding criteria for acceptance into his Kingdom. All of his disciples failed completely. In fact, it is only when we understand how weak and inconsistent we are, that we truly discover the generosity and kindness of God. The disciples couldn’t produce a faith that entitled them to a place in the Kingdom of God, and neither can we. To be a follower of Jesus is to discover poverty of self that draws us to the rich love of God- a love that we don’t deserve. Right at the point of our failure, is where we find hope and acceptance.

Questions | Reflect & Respond

Why did Jesus tell Peter he would fail?

How does failure become something valuable in our lives?

Desperate Enough To Pray | Pray

It’s really sobering to see Jesus facing a moment where He is deeply distressed and overwhelmed by what lies ahead. He understands what we experience when we feel powerless or desperate. Jesus seeks out a conversation with His Father when the path in front of Him looks impossible. His honesty invites us into a real conversation with God. He wrestles with all that’s about to happen, but He trusts His Father and finds the strength to accept his purpose and mission.

Sometimes we have to get desperate before we're game enough to be totally honest with God. As you speak to God about what today will hold, try and be honest about your fears and uncertainty, but also ask for the strength to trust Him whatever your circumstance.