Making the Grade

She was having a good year.  Again.  Her grades were nearly perfect.  She was homecoming queen, and the head cheerleader.  She had the most friends in the hallways, and on Facebook.  It was all easy.  Despite all her success, she was well liked by everyone.  She could be counted on to stand up for the underdog in the frequently bitter world of school hallways, and often was found tutoring fellow students in informal sessions at the library.

Everything was going so well, in fact, that when her History mid-term was returned with a low grade, she laughed, as she was sure that the teacher was playing a joke on her.  She smiled at the teacher and waited for the punch line.  When none came, she looked closer at her paper.  There weren't many red marks on the front page, but the second and third pages were practically covered in red.  She couldn't believe it.

After class, she went to the teacher.  She was so shocked, she just stood there speechless for a moment.  Ms. Johnson understood.  She had had a similar reaction the previous night when she had graded the test on her kitchen table.  Her best student had nearly flunked the mid-term.  They discussed options, but since this was a mid-term, there weren't many.

She walked home after school in a daze.  She showed the paper to her parents, then excused herself to go to her room.  Her world had just shifted.  It may seem to us a small thing – it's only one grade in a sea of many grades – but this was so unexpected that she wasn't sure what it meant.

Luckily, Saturday was a rare, quiet day with very little planned.  This was good for her mood as she spent the day quietly moping about the house.  Sunday morning found her just going through the motions, getting ready for Sunday School without any anticipation.  After greeting everyone and settling in, they opened their Bibles and read about Peter. 

Headed into Passover, Peter was on top of the world.  He had a good friend who was changing the world.  He had experienced and participated in honest-to-goodness miracles!  For a minute, he had even walked on water!  Amazing!  But then everything changed for Peter.  In the course of just a few hours, everything had turned upside down.  Jesus had been arrested and beaten.  Peter was incredibly confused, and incredibly scared.  Three times he lied about even knowing Jesus, let alone being his friend. 

But Jesus didn't let any of that bother Him... he still loved Peter.  Jesus went out of his way to redeem Peter from his failings, and let him know how very special he was to Him.

It hit her like a thunderbolt.  Her bad grade on a test had no impact on Jesus' love for her!  She is special – not because of her track record, but because Jesus loves her.  She is loved – not because she was homecoming queen, but because she is His.  She is saved because of what He did – not because of anything she does.

You are the same!  You are special!  You are loved!  We are all God's children and a part of Jesus' family!  Halleluiah!