August 9, 2026
Today we’re talking about lies we believe as truth, because a lie you believe will affect your life as if it is true! There’s a boy in Tamaqua, Jaxon Green. He is in the news, because he was in a video with Elmo from Sesame Street! Jaxon is tube fed. He doesn’t take any food by mouth. He can’t eat regular food. Jaxon said “My friends were always making fun of how I was doing it, and I wanted to show like the whole world that I can do it and it’s okay that people are different!” So he was in a video where Elmo learns about tube feeding, a very fun and happy video! Jaxon’s mom says, “there’s nothing different about Jaxon because he eats differently.” Elmo says, “No matter how you eat, Elmo loves you!” Jaxon is an amazing kid, with a wonderful family, that taught him it’s ok to be different and that he’s awesome just the way he is.
Let me tell you, Elmo loves you too! And so does God! There are lies that we believe that hold us back and keep us down. We probably are all like Jaxon in this, there’s something about us that other people think is weird, strange, or not good! The question is, do we believe them? Because a lie believed as truth will affect your life as if it is true and can rob you of all that God wants to do in your life.
One of the worst lies you can believe is that you’re broken, that God has no use for you, and that you’re no good. When Jesus looked at people, he was able to see the whole person in front of him, and their whole story. He didn’t just see a tax collector, who everyone else looked at and thought “That guy’s a cheater and a traitor.” Jesus saw a potential disciple. Jesus actually called a tax collector named Matthew to follow him! And Matthew did! We have a tendency to look at people, size them up, and if we don’t like how they look, we write them off. Based on one thing they did. Based on a habit. Or based on something we heard about them.
And if they hurt us or someone we love, it’s hard to see them as anything other than “worthless.” But that goes both ways. People size you up and write you off. And we also do this to ourselves. We define ourselves by a failure. And if we see ourselves that way, we think, “God thinks I’m a failure, too!” But that’s a lie!
God doesn’t think you’re a failure! And we know he doesn’t, because Jesus didn’t. Jesus said if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen God. He and God the Father are one. God sees the whole you. And he loves you! He doesn’t overlook your sin and the harm you cause others and yourself. But he doesn’t define you by your sin. You are invited to accept how God thinks about you. And when you do, you may feel called to extend the same grace to others, so you don’t see them by their most famous failure or sin. You see the whole person!
Remember when you were a kid? You were upset about something you did. You were rude and your friend is mad at you and won’t talk to you. Or you have detention. Or you didn’t make the team. And what does mom or dad say? They’re trying to tell you, everybody makes mistakes. It’s not the end of the world. Your mom and dad, they’re not God, see you quite as God does. But they know you and try to convince you that you are more than what you did or failed to do. When you accept how God, who knows all about you, how He thinks about you, and accept what God thinks about everybody else, well that’s what it looks like to live like a Christian. Because you start extending grace and forgiveness to yourself and others! You stop believing the lie that you or anyone else is broken and beyond God’s love.
Jesus ate his last supper with his disciples before he would be arrested and go to the cross. He had all his disciples at this supper, even Judas, who would betray him. Jesus says, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me…” In Matthew 26:31. Peter says, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” I know I’m better than all these yahoos! Jesus gives Peter the bad news, that tonight, before the cock crows in the morning, three times you are going to say, “I don’t know that Jesus guy.” Peter says, no, I will die for you if I have to! I won’t disown you.
But Peter and the disciples run away when Jesus is arrested. Then Peter keeps his distance. Peter goes to a courtyard. He’s not going to get close enough to Jesus to get caught, but he’s trying to be close enough to know what’s happening to Jesus. So he’s in a courtyard, and a girl sees Peter and says in Matthew 26:69 “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” Jesus says, No, not me. He’s asked again and again, and Peter keeps saying, I don’t know him! And then a cock crows three times. Matthew 26:75 says, “And Peter went outside and wept bitterly.” Have you ever wept because of regret? I have. Can you imagine how bad Peter felt? He had told Jesus, I will never leave you or disown you! But he did!
In John 21, after Jesus rose from the dead, he appears to the disciples two times. And he tells them to meet him in Galilee. So, the disciples go to Galilee to where their boats are. And they wait for Jesus. A day goes by and there’s no Jesus. So, Peter says, I’m going fishing. They go out fishing through the night, and in the morning, they row back to shore. Jesus is on the beach! He helps them get a big catch of fish, because they haven’t caught any. He tells them to bring some fish to the fire he started. They do, and he cooks breakfast.
Jesus takes Peter aside and asks, “Do you love me?” Peter says, “Yes Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus asks him again, Peter, do you love me? Peter says, Yes, I love you, I told you before. Then a third time Jesus asks him, and Peter says, “Lord you know all things, you know that I love you.” It’s like Jesus helps Peter make up for his three denials with three I love yous.
Jesus tells Peter, it’s not going to be easy if you follow me. We know Peter will be arrested, put in prison, and people will try to have Peter killed. The legend is that Peter died on a cross. Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me.” He trusts Peter, even though he is a flawed person like you and me. Jesus puts Peter in charge. Peter’s going to start the church off on Pentecost with a bold sermon and 3000 people will respond to his altar call and be saved!
No matter if you think you’re done, you’re defective or you’ve done something awful, you’re not done. God’s not done with you. If Peter were here, he would tell you or me, you’re not out. You’re heavenly father doesn’t count you out. So don’t count yourself out.
Isn’t it true that the people most attracted to God’s kingdom, are not the “I do things right” type of people. The people who are attracted to God’s kingdom are the people who had massive failures but experienced the grace of God. They’re not proud of what they did, but they’re not afraid to tell you about it. You can’t fall too far and you can’t wander too far away. He will always take you back.
My challenge for you, is to say Peter’s words out loud: “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”
No one on earth is broken and beyond God’s love! God knows all things! He sees the whole you. He knows your weakness, and he doesn’t overlook your sin. But your sin or your weakness doesn’t define his view of you. God loves you. You don’t have to be perfect to follow Jesus, because he offers grace upon grace to you. You just have to dust yourself off and follow him. Amen.
Maureen Duffy-Guy's blog 