That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus’ name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute. Acts 5:40-42 THE MESSAGE BIBLE
Think about Peter. How was it that he was able to go out teaching and preaching even after He denied Jesus three times?
GRACE
Jesus graced Peter with the ability to forgive himself and move on with courage knowing he had been given the honor to preach in spite of his past choices.
I think every one of us means to be strong and brave and do the right thing as we run the race of life. But then we mess up. We didn’t want to, but we did.
God doesn’t want us to stay stuck in the part of the race where we fell, standing there weeping over the delay or dwelling on our own shortcomings that became obstacles to the finish we had so desired.
Nope.
He asks us to pick ourselves up and press on to finish the race He set for us. No looking back.
He doesn’t remember our failures.
Why do we?
“Give yourself and all [the people] you have ever met a fresh start from today. Remember no more their sins and failures, or your own.” P243
God Bless your forgiving heart today. Keep running my friend.
Gigi
https://gigimurfitt.com/
The idea for this blog post came from the August 20 devotional in AJ Russell’s God Calling book.
