Beyond the Weekend

April 5 | Bouncing Back

April 5, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people…know this…It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:8-10a

Read: Acts 4:1-12

Listen: Acts 4

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Failure is not final, and Peter is the great example. Two months after Jesus’ trial, Peter stands before the very same Jewish leaders he hid from and tells them, “the Jesus you crucified is the one who has healed this lame man!” Talk about “in your face!”

Peter had been knocked to his knees by his failure to keep the promise he made to Jesus (Mark 14:27-29). But three things happened: He saw the resurrected Christ, experienced Jesus’ love and forgiveness, and was filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Not only did Jesus reinstate him as a leader—but gave him the power to carry it out.

Like Peter, many of us have been knocked to the ground by failures and regrets. But we don’t have to stay there. Even though we haven’t seen the resurrected Jesus like Peter, his forgiveness and power are available based on God’s Word (1 John 1:9) Peter shows us not to just lie there but do our part by getting up and trusting in Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead of saying, “never again”—Peter faced his fears and God used him mightily.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

If you are living with hurts, fears and regrets, learn from Peter. Take some time and journal what happened, then reach for the hand of Jesus that is reaching for you. Ask him to help you get up, trust in his forgiveness, and ask the Holy Spirit to bless you the way he wants.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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