December 19:
B.C.verse: Micah 5: 2-5
A.D. verse: John 21: 15-19
Christmas hymn: “Little Drummer Boy”
Hymn for today: “Savior, Like a Shepherd”
Epic fail. This is a phrase that the average teenager whips around
these days. It’s a phenomenon that has gone viral with regard to videos on
youtube and has even inspired its own app. Basically, an epic fail occurs when something
that should have been easy to accomplish goes horribly wrong, resulting in
complete and total failure.
Epic fail pretty much describes the Israelites in today’s passage.
After Solomon, the nation of Israel fell apart – literally. They refused to
obey God or His laws, which naturally resulted in all sorts of negative
consequences. Add in a little drama in the house of Solomon, and all of a
sudden, Israel was a nation divided in two. The result was something like 400
years in which God was silent, and Israel (and Judah – the other half) were
attacked by their enemies. As was
promised, there was no human king during the interim.
In the prophecy from Micah, God offers His sin-oppressed, depressed
people a light at the end of the tunnel with the promise of a king, a savior.
“The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the
woman in labor gives birth” (Micah 5:2). Literally and figuratively, a birth
would end the Israelites exile. Just as a woman’s labor pains end with the
birth, so Israel’s pain would end with the birth.
“He will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’ Strength, in the
majesty of the name of the Lord his God” (Micah 5:4). This new king would not
rely on the strength of armies or human wisdom. Like his predecessor, David,
this king would trust and obey God and His laws. “Then, his people will live
there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. And he will
be the source of peace” (Micah 5:4). The end result of putting God first will
be all the blessings He intended for his people in the first place.
Even though Israel had experienced an epic fail, the good news was that
it was not too late. God was offering a way out of the mess. The solution,
however, was not without a price, but God was willing to foot the bill for a
mess He hadn’t even made. . .without an expectation of ever being repaid.
Israel wasn’t the only one to get a second chance. In the A.D. verses
for today, we read about Peter’s epic fail.
Prior to this moment, Peter had denied Christ, so when they met again,
I would imagine that Peter felt somewhat awkward around him. Then, to make
matters worse, Jesus engages Peter in a weird conversation in which Jesus asked
him three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:15). The first
two times, Jesus was basically asking, “How much do you love me? Would you
sacrifice yourself in some way for me?”
If I put myself into Peter’s shoes, I have no doubt that the questions
made Peter squirm. When the opportunity had presented itself earlier, Peter had
experienced an epic fail; rather than sacrifice himself for Christ, Peter had
actually denied him. It must have felt like a knife being ground into Peter’s
side. So, when he said, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you” (v 16), Peter was
saying (because it was the only thing he could honestly say at this point), “Of
course, I care about you; you are a good friend of mine.”
The third time Jesus asked him, Jesus used Peter’s definition (above) in framing the question, and “Peter was
grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything.
You know that I love you’” (v 17). Peter was hurt and distressed because he
KNEW that Jesus had lowered his standard and (in Peter’s mind) opinion of
Peter. Peter felt as though there was a spotlight on his epic fail.
Christ, in His perfect timing, sensed that Peter was now in the frame
of mind that Christ needed Peter to be. Jesus
continued by letting Peter know what was in his future, and it didn’t involve a
happy ending with regard to his human life. However, “Jesus said this to let
him know by what kind of death he [Peter] would glorify God. Then Jesus told
him, ‘Follow me’” (19).
Rather than be traumatized further, Peter was relieved to hear that his
epic fail would not haunt him for the rest of his life. In the end, Peter would
truly show Christ that he loved him by sacrificing his life for him.
Thus, it would seem as though epic fails are
not terminal failures. Our
biggest failures are necessary in order to humble us and lead us to repentance.
It is only then that our hearts and attitudes are finally centered on God
versus ourselves.
“And when you begin to see [a] person in
the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but
pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on
earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. . .You may often
have to watch Christ wreck a life before He saves it” Oswald
Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
Daily Challenge: Replace what
you use today (Ex. Toilet paper roll, soda, water or copy paper).
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