My friend Randy was a big guy and had been a star high school football player, All-League, All-Area, All-State. He went to college the fall of his freshman year to get a college degree but he also wanted to continue to play football.

The first scrimmage, that August, he was assigned to play defensive end. On the very first play from scrimmage the offensive guard pulled, came down the line and hit my friend in the chest, then put his hands in the arm pits of my friend, picked him up and tossed him backwards. The offensive guard then said to my friend, “That was your warning. The next time I come down here I am going to kick your ass!” Two plays later the offensive guard did exactly that, pancaking my friend. The rest of the scrimmage, my friend got his butt kicked, play after play after play.

My friend wondered, after that practice, if he had made a good choice to try and play football at the collegiate level.

Early in the evening, on the night Jesus was arrested, Jesus told Peter, that he Peter would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed that night. Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” Well later on that night, after Jesus was arrested, Peter did deny he even knew Jesus three different times. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

In life we can get ourselves in over our heads pretty quickly. Maybe I should not have done this or that or maybe it is to late now. No matter what you have done, God gives us a second chance. Even if you have drifted away for a period of time, God is waiting for your return and He has a job for you.

My friend in college, he ended up playing some pretty good football, after his humbling start.

Jesus ended up building the church upon Peter the rock, but only after Peter was humbled.

God likes to put people to work after they have been humbled.

Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.