From the Beginning

God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power.

Acts 2:23–24 (CEV)

Here’s the plan: be nice to everyone; get good grades; do your chores; don’t fight with your brother too much; go to church; and do something extra for someone once in a while. That’s about it, right? Just keep yourself squared away and hopefully that’s good enough for God.

That’s probably what Peter thought until he met Jesus. Peter even gave up his job as a fisherman to follow Jesus. He seemed to do all the right things!

But, when his faithfulness was most important, Peter failed. When Jesus was facing harsh treatment and death, Peter pretended not to know him. He ran away to save himself.

However, that wasn’t the end of the story. Jesus died and came back to life; and he forgave Peter. He prepared Peter, who acted cowardly and failed, as a leader of the newly started church.

God’s plan was bigger than Peter’s weaknesses. God knew before Adam and Eve’s first sin that he would send Jesus to die for our sins and save us. He knows we are weak. He knows we will mess up and need forgiveness. And only he can help us do what’s right in his eyes. He will forgive us when we repent of our wrongs.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

We are all tempted to make excuses for sins. But instead of making an excuse, pray! Ask Jesus to help you do what’s right and to forgive you for the wrongs you have done. He will do it!

PRAY

God, you knew I would mess up from the beginning. Thank you for what Jesus did so I can be forgiven.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Please read...

Psalm 34:22

Isaiah 43:11–12

Luke 22:22

1 John 4:9–10