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Why God's Love is Bigger than Our Mistakes

What We Can Learn from 5 Big Screw-Ups of the Bible

ByKelli Mahoney, About.com Guide

Have you ever made a mistake? Most Christian teens have a list of things they have done in their lives

that they would just love to go back and change. Some of those things may seem unforgivable, andsome Christian teens believe that God can never love them because of those actions. However, God'slove is bigger and better than we can imagine. We are all imperfect. We are all sinners. We all do thewrong thing from time to time. However, God loves us anyhow. Don't believe it? Take a closer look atthese five screw-ups in the Bible and how God showed his love for them despite their imperfections:

Screw-Up #1: Jacob

Despite the fact that Jacob basically came out of the womb wheeling and dealing, God chose him aspart of the lineage of Jesus. In his youth he caused so much trouble at home his family had to sendhim off to live with his grandparents to keep the peace. God eventually sent an angel to get throughto Jacob. He worked and worked with Jacob until he became an amazing man of faith. Remember,God never gives up.

Further Reading: Genesis 25:19-34, Genesis 27:1-36, Genesis 32

Screw Up #2: David

Most Christian teens know the stories of how great David was. He defeated Goliath. He was a superbKing and a great military leader. He was chosen by God to replace Saul, who was not such a greatking. Yet even David fell prey to his own imperfections. David, who gave us so many words of wisdom,gave into lust and had an affair with a women, then lied and had her husband killed. He faced theconsequences of those actions, because God is a father and gives consequences for sin. However, Goddid not love David any less for his sin.

Further Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12

Screw-Up #3: Peter

We all know Peter was one of the Apostles, and we also know the story of his greatest screw-up. Hewas told by Jesus that he would deny him three times, and Peter truly believed that he would neverdeny that he was a follower of Christ. Yet, when it came down to it, Peter chickened out and didexactly what Jesus said he would. Did Jesus tell Peter that fact to make him feel bad? No. He toldPeter to let him know that he loved him no matter what. God's love and forgiveness are so much

greater than we can imagine.

Further reading: Mark 14:72

Screw-Up #4: Eve

Eve was the first person to ever sin. She was tempted by Satan, and she fell into it. Most Christianteens are tempted, and there are few that (at some point) don't give into sin. Again, God providedsome serious consequences by making her and Adam leave the garden, but He never told them thatHe stopped loving them. In fact, it was God's love and forgiveness that allowed them to live and givebirth to a planet full of people. It is God's strength that can help us allovercome temptation

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Further Reading: Genesis 3:21-24

Screw-Up #5: Thomas

Thomas doubted. That was his big mistake, and how we got the saying, "He's such a doubtingThomas." Still, Jesus did not come back and tell Thomas off for not believing. Instead he offeredThomas His hands as proof that it was really Him and that He had risen again. There are times when

most Christian teens have doubts. However, like Thomas, Christian teens need to bring those doubtsto God in order to get true answers.

Further Reading: John 20:26-28