I don’t much like the disposable philosophy.  I like to keep things.  I even find myself saving disposable items.  That really adds to the clutter around here.  It is hard for me to give up on any item that once had worth.

    Increasingly this disposable philosophy has crept into our relationships, even in the Christian community.  When those who were once useful and valued fail some way, many want to write them off.  Little or no effort is made to reclaim them.  So they are often lost to the work.

    But God is not like that.  Each one of His disciples is special and important.  He selected us with care and for a purpose.  He may be disappointed in us when we fail Him, but He doesn’t throw us away.  He continues to cherish us.  He continues to work with us.  He doesn’t give up.

    Peter is a case in point.  He was part of the inner circle.  He had unusual privileges.  The Lord had high regard for him, and big plans for his future.  Then Peter denied Him, not once but three times.  “And when he (Peter) thought thereon, he wept.”  Mark 14:72.

    Peter thought he was finished.  Surely the Lord would have nothing more to do with him.  But after the resurrection, the angel told the women to go tell His disciples “and Peter.”  How kind and gracious of our Lord to send that special word of encouragement to the fallen one.  He was saying, in effect, I’m not through with you.  I can still use you.  Peter had failed the Lord three times.  But John records how Jesus probed Peter’s heart three times, and recommissioned him three times also. (John 21).

    When people fail us, as they certainly will, instead of deciding they are no longer worth our time or effort or prayers, we should follow our Lord’s example.  He gave Simon the nickname, “Peter” - (stone or rock), because He knew he could be of great value in the kingdom.  Then He didn’t give up until what He believed about Peter came true.

    That’s the way He deals with each of us.

    It’s the way we should treat one another.