I know I say this a lot, but if the apostles were going to make up a story, they certainly wouldn't include this, right? I mean, who highlights the worst moments of their lives? What does it take to be honest about that?
It's an incredible amount of confidence in grace to be able to disclose your failures. But when you get it, when you really get it, then suddenly you realize it doesn't matter what other people think of you. When Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has declared you beloved and called you to lead the church, despite your failures, then you don't worry about your failures, because the love of God Almighty counts for so much more than the opinions of those who might mock your failures. Their mockery means nothing in comparison to the love that showers into your life.
And by being honest about those failures is an invitation into the church. Those of us with failures in our lives are no longer afraid or feel unworthy -- we see there is a roadmap into the church for sinners. As Augustine says, the church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. I can be confidant that I'm not the only broken one in the church -- there are plenty of us, each bringing our scars and warts and secrets.
May we learn not to fear our failures but to trust God's grace even more.
May we also learn to be open about our failures and invite others to experience the same grace.
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