Snorts of laughter and quiet giggles swept through the room as I held up my homework assignment. It was our second knitting class and our teacher had asked us to construct a basic dishcloth. Everyone else’s looked pretty much the same: four sides, even stitches, squared corners. Mine resembled an amoeba.
It’s not that I have anything against those one-celled critters…it’s just that my failure tempted me to abandon that class for good. And, knitting is one thing, but the stakes are much higher when it comes to failure in our spiritual lives.
The Apostle Peter is famous for his spiritual shortfall—he denied knowing Jesus. When a servant girl identified him as a Christ-follower, he replied, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” (Mark 14:71).
Despite this defeat, Peter later went on to preach the Gospel so powerfully that his audience was “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). When they heard his message; many of them repented and were baptized in Jesus’ name.
Failure presents us with two choices: give up, or try again. No matter how badly we slip up spiritually, we don’t have to become unraveled and quit the Christian life. As believers, we can hang on to this promise: although we may fall, “the Lord will uphold us by the hand” (Psalm 37:24).
EPILOGUE
I did finish one (knotted and bumpy) rainbow-colored scarf after the classes ended, but that’s the only action my knitting needles have seen in quite a while…J
Alexandra on June 3, 2009 at 7:43 am
So is the way of christian life, some of us are immediately transformed, other take much time and much patience, God also chastens the ones he loves on occasion and removes the dross from our lives and eventually we become more like Christ, we are constantly becoming, as your knitting at first an ameoba, and now at least an identifiable scarf, but none the less becoming, transforming read Romans 12:2
jennifer benson schuldt on June 4, 2009 at 10:17 am
Mmmm. Yes. Hanging in there, even when we fail in our Christian walk means that we are engaged in the sanctification process. It reminds me of this verse: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phil. 1:6
orly1777 on June 17, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hello. I think that I Thessalonians 5:24 has a similar idea like Phil. 1:6. Great article! Thanks.
septembersiena on July 20, 2009 at 2:12 pm
UNRAFFLED, yes it has it s lessons and can be learned if one would be calm, still and wait on the Lord. to learn patience and humility and peace. they are like a clustered rose. all in one. these will help one to not be raffled in whatever happens/circumstances in our lives. sometimes people in the rush , work, and worry , one must seek silence and help from the Lord. in the hussle and bussle of life one must slow down to accomplish anything. take the calm with you in your restless days. No wonder the Lord God says to wait wholly on HIM and for HE careth for you . are you making your plans or HIS plans. we must everyday consistently seek HIS Face and HiS plan for it is all for HIM and HIS plan. Halleluia. Thank you Jesus.