Finding Hope in the midst of Failure
Robert Dawson
Mark 14.43-54, 66-72
There have been similar stories in recent weeks and years but it is hard to believe it has been nearly 20 years, (1999), since some gunmen walked into a youth service at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Texas and opened fire. That night 8 people were killed and several more severely wounded. ''In the midst of the shooting one young man, Jeremiah Neitz (who himself had recently converted to Christ from a life of crime and street gangs), stood and challenged the gunman, telling him of his need for Christ. The gunman, apparently baffled by the youth's boldness and refusal to cower in the face of death, put his gun to his own head and committed suicide.'' (The Murder of Jesus, p49)
Stories like that or some variation of them, though rare in our country, are all too familiar in other parts of the world and a way of life for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- When we hear those stories, the question in the back of our minds is, ''What would I do? Would I stand firm in my faith? Would I stand boldly for Christ?''
- Often, the answer is simply ''I hope so. I pray God would give me the strength, courage and boldness to be faithful and not fall away in fear and cowardice.''
While a possibility, few of us expect to find ourselves in a situation like that but Peter did, many times. Throughout his life and that of the other apostles, they found themselves in situations like that and time and time again and were found faithful, true and strong.
However, we know that was not always the case. There was one moment in Peter's life where he did not stand but failed. I want us to look at what must have been the darkest day of Peter's life. I want us to rummage around in his failure and see what truths we can pull out and apply to our lives, truths that will help us stay faithful to Jesus, truths that will help us not be destroyed by our own failures and disobedience.
Mark 14.41-54, 66-72 - R ...
Robert Dawson
Mark 14.43-54, 66-72
There have been similar stories in recent weeks and years but it is hard to believe it has been nearly 20 years, (1999), since some gunmen walked into a youth service at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Texas and opened fire. That night 8 people were killed and several more severely wounded. ''In the midst of the shooting one young man, Jeremiah Neitz (who himself had recently converted to Christ from a life of crime and street gangs), stood and challenged the gunman, telling him of his need for Christ. The gunman, apparently baffled by the youth's boldness and refusal to cower in the face of death, put his gun to his own head and committed suicide.'' (The Murder of Jesus, p49)
Stories like that or some variation of them, though rare in our country, are all too familiar in other parts of the world and a way of life for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- When we hear those stories, the question in the back of our minds is, ''What would I do? Would I stand firm in my faith? Would I stand boldly for Christ?''
- Often, the answer is simply ''I hope so. I pray God would give me the strength, courage and boldness to be faithful and not fall away in fear and cowardice.''
While a possibility, few of us expect to find ourselves in a situation like that but Peter did, many times. Throughout his life and that of the other apostles, they found themselves in situations like that and time and time again and were found faithful, true and strong.
However, we know that was not always the case. There was one moment in Peter's life where he did not stand but failed. I want us to look at what must have been the darkest day of Peter's life. I want us to rummage around in his failure and see what truths we can pull out and apply to our lives, truths that will help us stay faithful to Jesus, truths that will help us not be destroyed by our own failures and disobedience.
Mark 14.41-54, 66-72 - R ...
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