Sermon Recap+ Jan 11, 2026

Have you ever wondered if God judges you based on your worst moments? Or perhaps you've questioned whether your best days truly define who you are in God's eyes? These are profound questions that touch the heart of our faith journey and our understanding of divine grace.

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Can We Really Judge Someone by Their Best or Worst Day?

Remember the story of my son's nico on his first and second day of school. On his very first day of kindergarten, six-year-old Nico was ready. He woke up early, got dressed on his own, and ate breakfast before anyone else was even awake. He was excited, confident, and eager to go. The next morning was a different story.“Why do I have to go again?” he asked.“I already went yesterday.”“All week? How long is a week?”

Would it be fair to judge him based on either of those days? Of course not. Nico is more than his excitement on day one or his confusion on day two. He’s learning, growing, and thriving—one ordinary day at a time.

The Same Principle Applies to Our Spiritual Lives. Just as we cannot judge a child by a single day, we cannot judge ourselves or others by isolated moments of triumph or failure. This truth becomes even more powerful when we examine the life of one of Christianity's most important figures: Peter.

Peter: A Study in Human Inconsistency and Divine Grace

Peter's story from Acts 10:34-43 reveals something remarkable about God's character. But to understand this passage fully, we need to see Peter's complete journey.

Peter's Greatest Moments

Peter had incredible highs in his relationship with Jesus:

• He correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah when others were confused

• He courageously attempted to walk on water to meet Jesus

• He was willing to defend Jesus with a sword during the arrest

Peter's Most Challenging Moments

But Peter also had significant failures:

• Just two verses after correctly identifying Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus called him "Satan" for trying to prevent the crucifixion

• He began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water

• He denied knowing Jesus three times during the crucifixion

What Does "God Shows No Favoritism" Really Mean?

In Acts 10:34, Peter declares, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every nation who fear him and do what is right." This revelation came after Peter's vision of the sheet filled with animals, where God taught him that the gospel was for everyone, not just the Jewish people.

The Context of Peter's Declaration

This statement came when Peter was speaking to Cornelius. God had orchestrated this meeting through visions to both men, demonstrating that salvation was available to all people, regardless of their background.

Why Peter's Inconsistency Gives Us Hope

Here's what makes Peter's story so encouraging: even after this powerful revelation in Acts 10, Peter later struggled with the same issue. In Galatians 2:11, Paul confronts Peter for separating himself from Gentile believers when other Jewish Christians were around.

Peter got it right, then got it wrong again. Sound familiar?

God Factors Our Struggles Into His Plan

This pattern reveals something beautiful about God's character: He has already factored our inconsistencies, our failures, and yes, even our "stupidity" into His plan of salvation. We serve a God who doesn't judge us by our best day or our worst day, but continues to love us, support us, and work in our lives every single day.

How Do We Know If Christ Is Changing Lives?

The question isn't whether dramatic conversions are happening around us. The real question is: Is Christ continuing to change your life every day?

The Daily Work of Transformation

Christ changes lives not through single moments of perfection, but through the daily process of growth, forgiveness, and renewal. If you can honestly say that Christ is working in your life each day, making you more loving, more patient, more like Him, then you're experiencing the transformative power of the gospel.

The Great Commandment and Personal Growth

Jesus summarized our calling in the Great Commandment: Love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. Each part of this commandment requires ongoing growth:

1. Loving God

It's easy to say "Jesus is Lord," but more challenging and meaningful to say "Jesus is my Lord." Personal ownership of faith makes all the difference.

2. Loving Your Neighbor

Loving our neighbors requires practice. Like doctors who "practice medicine," we must practice love, especially when it's difficult.

3. Loving Yourself

Perhaps the most challenging aspect is learning to love yourself properly - not with pride, but with the understanding that you are God's beloved child, worthy of grace and capable of growth.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to stop judging your spiritual life by your best or worst moments. Instead, focus on the daily work of transformation that Christ is doing in your life.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How has Christ changed me in small ways over the past month?

• Am I allowing my worst moments to define my relationship with God?

• What is one area where I can see God's ongoing work in my life?

• How can I extend the same grace to others that God extends to me?

Remember, the only judge we need to concern ourselves with is Jesus, and He has already declared His love for you. Your worth isn't determined by your performance on any given day, but by His unchanging grace. Continue to grow, continue to love, and trust that Christ is indeed changing your life, one day at a time.