Learn from Your Mistakes

Note from today’s Bible reading: Luke 9

On one occasion during Jesus’ earthly ministry, He took Peter, James, and John into a mountain where He was transfigured before them (Luke 9:28-36). During this event, the Lord’s appearance was changed and He appeared with Moses and Elijah.

In seeing this, Peter responded, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While Peter may have had the best of intentions, he said this “not realizing what he was saying” (Luke 9:33).

Peter was not rebuked directly, but God did address his statement. He spoke from heaven and said, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). After this statement from above, Jesus was alone; Moses and Elijah were no longer with Him. Therefore, Peter’s sincere but misguided suggestion that they build a tabernacle for each of them was both unnecessary and not according to God’s will.

However, after it was clear that he made a mistake, Peter did not try to excuse his actions or explain his thinking. Instead, he and the others “kept silent” (Luke 9:36). He understood the truth now. There was no need to justify his misunderstanding. This is a lesson that is often difficult to learn.

So learn from your mistakes. Even with the best of intentions, we may say or do things that are unnecessary or unwise. Rather than feeling like we need to justify ourselves in our past decisions, let us apply the lessons we have learned from them moving forward.