Three times Peter denied his Lord. He then returned to his fishing and even that was a miserable failure. However, Jesus was on the beach ready to respond in grace. Jesus was responsible for filling the nets to the point of breaking and then graciously restoring the apostle who had forsaken and denied Him (John 21:15-17).
Acts 15: 38, 39 records that, “Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one [Mark] who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they [Barnabas and Paul] parted from one another.” Paul’s initial response was an aggressive and harsh rejection of Mark. Later, he specifically requests for Mark to come and work with him because he is so helpful in his ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Obviously, Paul was now responding in grace and restoration to someone who had failed him.
Perhaps we have done something bad and have failed both an individual and the Lord. We need to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness even if the person does not respond in grace. If we are the offended one it is usually better to err on the side of grace than judgement. On the other hand, let us never confuse responding in grace with promoting failure and tolerating sin. There is already too much of that.
Calvary Chapel of Richmond is a local fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit through the continuous study and application of God's Word.
