Archive for the 'Bible Studies for Life' Category
Hope Even After Failure
Wouldn’t it be nice if we never sinned again after we received Christ? What joy it would be to immediately enter a state of sinlessness. No sorrow, no repentance, no regrets.
In His wisdom, God decided that incremental growth, slow conformation into Christ likeness, would bring Him glory. As a result, we often find ourselves in a roller coaster pattern of Christian advancement. And, because we often forget the grace of God, failure leaves us feeling despair.
In the Spring 2014 unit of Bible Studies for Life, Pete Wilson says it like this:
“When we come to faith in Christ, we realize there is nothing we can do to earn a right relationship with God. We fail, but Jesus gives us hope. After we become Christians, we still fail, but we sometimes chastise ourselves for failing. We think: If I were a Christian, I wouldn’t do that. The same grace we needed for salvation is the same grace we need to live it out. The hope we have in Christ is grounded in grace, and we need to experience that grace day-by-day.”1
Peter’s Failure
One of the best known stories of this kind of restored hope is in the life of the Apostle Peter. Peter was that disciple of Jesus who seemed to always be the first to answer. He was the one who stepped out of the boat to walk on the water. He was the one who “confessed” Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. But, he also was involved in one of the greatest personal failures in the entire Bible.
Near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as His crucifixion drew near, He warned that all His followers would abandon Him.2 Peter, in his typical style, assured the Lord of his steadfastness, promising to stand with Jesus even if all the others ran away.3 Jesus responded, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”4
Scripture records Peter did indeed deny knowing Jesus three times in a single night. All the more poignant, all the denials took place in the timeframe of Jesus’ trial.5
Peter, the Bible says, wept bitterly at his failure.6
Hope Extended
One might expect Peter to be ruined, overcome by his own inability to live up to his bragging. And that might have been the end result had Jesus not extended hope to Peter in a very forthright way.
After His resurrection from the dead, two of Jesus’ followers met an angel at the empty tomb. The angel said to them, “Go tell His disciples and Peter” that He is going to Galilee and would meet them there.7
Just a few weeks later, God allowed Peter to bring the message of the resurrection on the day of Pentecost, when 3,000 people were saved. What a restoration of hope in the life of this one who had failed so badly.
Do you feel as if you have failed God? Listen to our Savior encourage you to follow Him. Do not despair; let hope in! There is hope for you.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
1– Bible Studies for Life, Let Hope In, by Pete Wilson (Emphasis in original)
2– Matthew 26:31
3– Matthew 26:33
4– Matthew 26:34
5– John 18:15-27
6– Matthew 26:75
7– Mark 16:7
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
4 Reminders to Keep Us Expressing Hope
Last week, we looked at hope being in a person rather than merely an expression of our emotions. Jesus is our hope, and it is He who provides for our Father’s acceptance.
Such a hope should lead to our expressing hope as surely as night follows day. Ongoing gratitude for our hope in Christ should be a natural part of the Christian life.
We may not be ungrateful, but we can forget to be grateful. We get used to the things we’ve been given, and we begin to take them for granted. Believers can do that in their relationship with Christ. The longer we have been believers, the more we can get used to the blessings and benefits of knowing Christ. Over time, we can forget what it was like not to have that hope in Him.1
The book of Psalms provides us with many examples of gratitude and praise. One of these is in the 138th Psalm where David writes,
“I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and truth. You have exalted Your name and Your promises above everything else. On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.”2
David’s expression of praise and his statement of future praise in this psalm are directly related to God’s response to him: “On the day I called, You answered me.” This is not surprising, as most of us were filled with praise on the day God answered our call.
Do Not Forget to be Grateful
The concern expressed above is just how quickly distance is put between the time of our salvation and the present day. That distance doesn’t do away with our gratitude, but it can cause us to forget to be grateful. Here are four things we can do to remind us to be grateful.
1. Annually
We can remind ourselves annually by marking our spiritual birthday on the calendar. Whether the paper calendar hanging in your kitchen or the digital calendar on your phone, add your spiritual birthday. Don’t forget to set an alert so it will pop-up as a reminder.
2. Monthly
On the last day of each month, write down something God did during the month as a result of being His child. Perhaps one of your family members or friends comes to Christ, you hit a strong season of spiritual growth, or were blessed by a brother or sister in Christ. Make a note in a journal or in your Bible.
3. Weekly
Each week, set aside a specific quiet time to review the blessings God has brought to you. This may take a half hour or longer, but it will grow a spirit of gratitude and remind you of His constant involvement.
4. Daily
Each morning, thank God for the salvation He has given you.
These are just four suggestions to remind yourself to be thankful for God and His salvation. Whatever methods you choose, do not let yourself take God’s work in your life for granted. Remember, and be grateful. When we remember our hope in Christ, we can more easily express it.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
1– Bible Studies for Life, Let Hope In, by Pete Wilson
2– Psalm 138:1-3, HCSB
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.