The gospel accounts of the last few days of what we now know as Holy Week show us just how fickle we are as followers of Jesus. Every single one of the twelve who walked with Jesus proved their humanity by demonstrating abject failure in their faithfulness. It ought to give us late-comers-to-faith comfort, but alas, there is little enjoyment in being found in falling on one’s face—even if we are part of a crowd.

The good news is that every one of the apostles found their own sinfulness in that behavior, and all of them repented and stood for their faith. And they did not waste a lot of time getting about the business of being Kingdom oriented. We read in Acts 1.15-17: In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty). Peter took his proper place in headship in gathering the flock.

What about Judas? We ask. Peter speaks to that first: ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.’ Judas saw his sin and repented, but he repented to himself—not to Jesus. And he stood in his faith by taking his own life.

Have you failed to fulfill what is expected of you in your faith-walk yet? Oh, do not doubt that you will fall—a proven fact of human sinfulness as demonstrated by the twelve. The secret is to REPENT OF YOUR SIN TO JESUS! He wants to, can, and will restore you to be able to stand for him in life. And the next time you fall it will get easier to come to the standing position in Christ Jesus. BELOVED, STAND IN JESUS!