4月18日
標 題： 給第二次機會的神
經 節： 你們可以去告訴祂的門徒和彼得，說：「祂在你們以先往加利利去。在那裡你們要見祂，正如祂從前所告訴你們的。」（馬可福音十六章7節）
神是否給失敗者第二次機會呢？祂就是這樣對待彼得的。彼得當初驕傲地告白自己是耶穌最忠實的信徒（馬太福音廿六：33）。然而，彼得不僅在那危急存亡的一刻，與門徒四散逃跑，也厚顏無恥地否認自己認識耶穌（馬太福音廿六：69～75）。彼得失敗了，他悲慘地跑到外面痛哭（路加福音廿二：62）。
復活的主是多麼地憐憫彼得！在墳墓旁的天使給那幾個婦人特別的指示，好叫彼得知道耶穌已經復活了。耶穌還特意把彼得帶到一旁，讓彼得再次肯定自己的愛與獻身（約翰福音廿一：15～17）。復活主也選擇彼得作五旬節的主要發言人，那天門徒的數目約添了三千人。
神想要領你由現在的地方，到祂要你去的地方。當祂查找祂受挫的門徒時，耶穌第一句話是：「願你們平安！」（約翰福音二十：19）當你失敗，令耶穌失望時，祂對你說的第一句話也是：「願你們平安！」耶穌會在你沮喪時帶給你平安。然後，祂會讓你再次兩眼朝向祂，你會相信祂並跟隨祂。如果你使你的主失望，不要灰心，牢記在彼得身上所發生的事。神尚未把你訓練成門徒呢！
The God of Second Chances
“But go, tell His disciples–and Peter–that He is going before you
into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:7)
Does God give second chances to those who have failed Him? He certainly
did so for Peter. Peter had proudly announced that he was Jesus’ most reliable
disciple (Matt. 26:33). Yet Peter not only fled with the other disciples in the
moment of crisis, but also blatantly denied he even knew Jesus (Matt.
26:69–75). Peter failed so miserably that he went out into the night and wept
bitterly (Luke 22:62).
How compassionate the risen Christ was to Peter! The angel gave the
women at the tomb special instructions to let Peter know that He was risen.
Jesus took Peter aside to allow him the opportunity to reaffirm his love and
commitment (John 21:15–17). The risen Lord also chose Peter as His primary
spokesman on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand people were added to the
church.
God’s desire is to take you from where you are and bring you to where He
wants you to be. When He found His defeated followers hiding together in an
upper room, Jesus’ first word was “peace” (John 20:19). Jesus’ first words to
you after you fail may also be “peace.” Jesus will find you in despair and
bring you peace. Then, He will reorient you to Himself so that you can believe
Him and follow Him. Don’t give up if you have failed your Lord. Remember what happened
to Peter. God has not yet finished developing you as a disciple.
