Not Disqualified

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed" -1 Peter 5.1

Peter has shared his past failure, humbly presenting himself as a fellow elder, but he doesn't end with this moment of failure because that moment of failure was not the end of his ministry. Peter states that he has witnessed the sufferings of Christ, perhaps more intensely and personally than anyone else, but he goes on to say that he is also a partaker of the glory that is going to be revealed. Peter denied Christ, but Christ forgave Peter, and Peter was not disqualified from the service of God.

Peter's failure was huge; three times he denied knowing Jesus while standing only a few yards away from Him. At the third denial Jesus and Peter locked eyes, and Peter felt the weight of his denial, leaving the courtyard and bitterly weeping. Jesus is crucified and buried, and Peter feels the guilt and shame of his actions. Then Jesus rises again, Peter and Jesus talk on a beach over breakfast, and then go for a walk. A few weeks later Jesus returns to Heaven, at Pentecost Peter is filled with the Spirit and boldly proclaims Christ. Peter failed, Jesus forgave, Peter is restored.

Your past failures don't disqualify you from being used by God, or from worshiping Him in all of His glory. There is nothing that God cannot forgive. There is nothing that once forgiven will disqualify you from God's service, or from partaking in the worship at the throne of Christ.

Peter points out his failure, and then speaks of God's grace. That is a message all leaders need to hear. There is no failure too great to be forgiven. Forgiveness allows us to partake in the glory of God.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!