I was watching my 9 month old boy yesterday as he was pushing his little walking cart. He is very determined to walk, and every time he falls down he gets right back up and struggles a bit but eventually grabs hold of the bars and keeps trying. He is determined to walk! How classic is that? Were we all not determined to get up and walk when we were little diaper dippin' babies? Was there not something built in us that was so natural it was like breathing? Its funny how sometimes the greatest lessons we learn are not from the great grey haired sage theologians, but rather the small infants, babes, and toddlers.
Jesus also was determined to teach His disciples to get right back up and walk whenever they failed or made a horrible fool of themselves. He could of laughed at them, ridiculed them, left them, been angry at them...but He chose to be patient and long suffering towards them. He taught them to fight for what is worth fighting for, namely the Kingdom of God. He taught them to persevere and not give up, no matter what trial or obstacle they were facing. He taught them the unseen glory of loving God when nothing made sense, when all seemed lost or destroyed. He taught them to live by faith and not by sight. This is deep, and beautiful. God incarnate, walking in the midst of flesh and dirt, who Himself became flesh. Jesus knew the weaknesses of the human heart. He knew how prone people were to fail, and to fail miserably.
The good news is for you and I is that we must get up and walk again after we have failed. Its not a question of will you fail, but rather when you fail. Fail we will, and at times miserably. Do not beat yourself over the head or wallow in condemnation, rather use it as an opportunity to discover the gift of grace, the gift of the blood of Jesus, and run into His arms rather than away. You are dearly loved today!
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