Called out

One of the hardest things to deal with is being called out.

I remember having real confidence issues with sharing in class.

My heart would beat quicker, sometimes I would even sweat.

I hated being called out.

In seventh grade I had a teacher who I swear hated me.

Mrs. Littlejohn would call on me in our math class.

I would instantly feel uncomfortable, even when I had the answer, I would say I didn't know.

She would call me out, "Come on Joel, you need to focus more."

It sucked.

Then she would call on my friend Chad, and he would know it like the back of his hand.

It was the same way at Great Lakes.

I barely knew were half the books in the Bible were, how am I going to speak up in a Bible class?

I tried not too.

Sometimes we get called out.

It happened to Peter.

Peter was in the back watching the trial of Jesus when he was called out.

If he admitted he was with Jesus, would he be next to him on the cross?

I don't know.

Peter had a chance to share his faith in a bad situation.

How did Peter answer?

Matthew 26:70…

"But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said."

He went on to deny Jesus two more times.

One of the times even said, "I swear, I don't know him."

Peter was called out and had a chance to stand up for his faith.

He fell down.

Just like so many of us do when we show our faith.

With our actions or words we have a chance to stand up for our faith and we fall short.

This happens to us all.

The real question is how are you going to respond when this happens?

Peter went away and wept.

He cameback though and still was a main leader in the Church.

We all fall short in our faith sometimes.

After falling short, what's next?

Peter fell short but came back.

How are you?

Often it takes something bad to happen in order to truly show us how much faith we have.

Even when we fall short there, Jesus gives us the chance to redeem ourselves.

Being called out is never easy.

Whether at work, school or in faith, even when we fail, we have another chance.

How are you going to respond?

Everyone gets another chance.

Will you take advantage of yours?

Have a great day.