The God of another chance
The story of the Woman (Samaritan) at the well is found in John 4:16-19, 27-30, and Peter蘑菇视频 denial in Matt 26:69-74, and Peter蘑菇视频 reinstatement in John 21:15-17.
What is the message that God sends to those who fail? In the account of the Samaritan woman, Jesus confronts her about the many husbands she had (five husbands and in another relationship again). Talk about 鈥淒ivorce Court.鈥� One failure after another. In that culture at that time, she was regarded as unclean. She was considered dirty, unacceptable and contaminated. Notice that she came to the well, but Jesus stayed.
Be reminded that God is not afraid of your sin, your issues or dysfunction. Jesus warned Peter he would deny him and Peter said 鈥淣ever.鈥� When confronted three times whether he knew Jesus, Peter more aggressively denied him each time.
How many chances have we had to be a witness for Christ and failed? How many times have we let others down? Especially after all that Peter had been through with Jesus 鈥� All the ministry and travel, the miracles he had witnessed, the teachings. How many of us used to be on fire for God and then for whatever circumstances, we find ourselves in a dark spiritual place where we shouldn鈥檛 be? If we could say just one thing to God, how many of us would say, 鈥淧lease don鈥檛 give up on me yet. Do not take thy Holy Spirit from me!鈥�?
Jesus informed the woman that despite all those failed relationships she could have living water just by asking. Jesus informed Peter that despite denying him three successive times, he was to get back into ministry. The woman had five failed relationships, and Christ was giving her another chance. Peter denied him three successive times, and Christ was giving him another chance. He is not the God of a second chance! That implies limitation. In God蘑菇视频 compassions that fail not and his mercy that endures forever; He is the God of another chance!
The Samaritan Woman represents what never was. She never knew Christ. Never had the living water of God蘑菇视频 spirit, his word, the fellowship of others. Her life was one of struggle, heartache, bad choices and the stigma of being 鈥渦nclean.鈥� Peter represents what used to be. People who walked in agreement with God experienced his goodness, knew the high spirituality of his presence, and then backslid into denial through fear, intimidation and weakness.
In desperation, you go into the dark quiet of your life in soulful bitterness of the loss you realize and feel. But God comes along and gives another chance. God will meet you where you鈥檙e at, but won鈥檛 leave you like you are!
Are you, or someone you know, in either of these positions in life? What should be in your life? What of God has never been? What of God used to be? Yes it蘑菇视频 true, you may have loss that you can鈥檛 get back, but moving forward, what prayer do you need to pray?
How about this prayer: 鈥淕od, meet me where I鈥檓 at, but don鈥檛 leave me like I am. Don鈥檛 give up on me.鈥�
Be reminded, he is the God of another chance.