The Witness Code

How do I get past what I did?

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:38:50 -0700

Many of us carry something from our past that we can't shake.

Maybe it was one moment.

Maybe it was years.

Something we said.

Something we did.

Someone we hurt.

A time we let God down when it mattered most.

We have prayed about it.

We have asked for forgiveness.

And we believe God forgave us.

But we can't get past it.

It comes back at night.

It comes back when we try to serve.

And a voice says, "Who are you to do anything for God, after what you did?"

There is a story in the Bible about a man who knew exactly how that feels.

His name was Peter.

On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter made a promise.

He said, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended."

And, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee."

That same night, Peter stood in a courtyard, warming his hands by a fire.

A servant girl looked at him and said, "You were with Him."

And Peter said, "I know him not."

Three times.

Then the rooster crowed.

And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

That was not a small failure.

It was public.

It was repeated.

It was against his closest friend, on the worst night of that friend's life.

Now fast forward.

Jesus has risen.

And Peter has gone back to...Read More

How do I forgive someone who isn't sorry?

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:36:50 -0700

Many of us have been hurt by someone.

Maybe a parent.

Maybe a husband or a wife.

Maybe a business partner, a pastor, a friend we trusted with everything.

And here is the part that makes it so hard.

They never said sorry.

They never admitted it.

Some of them act like it never happened.

Some of them would do it again tomorrow.

And everybody keeps telling us, "You need to forgive."

And something in us says, "How?"

"How do I forgive someone who is not even sorry?"

That is an honest question.

And the Bible answers it in the most unlikely place.

On a cross.

Luke 23, verse 33:

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him."

Think about what has just happened to Jesus.

He was betrayed by a friend.

Abandoned by the rest.

Tried in a fake court, with false witnesses.

The governor said, "I find no fault in him," and handed Him over anyway.

He was beaten.

Mocked.

And now they are driving nails into His hands.

If anyone ever had a right to be bitter, it was Him.

So listen to the first thing He says from the cross.

Verse 34:

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

That is His first sentence.

Not a protest.

Not a complaint about the unfair...Read More

What do I do when someone I love is walking away from God?

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:36:13 -0700

Many of us are watching someone we love walk away from God.

Maybe it's a son.

He grew up in church.

He knew every song.

And now he won't come anymore.

Maybe it's a daughter away at university, and the way she talks about God has changed.

Maybe it's a husband.

A best friend.

Someone who used to pray with us.

They have not made a big announcement.

They are just quietly leaving.

And we are scared.

We want to say something.

We want to grab them and turn them around.

And we don't know what to do.

The Bible has a story for us.

It happened on the very day Jesus rose from the dead.

Luke 24, verse 13:

"And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs."

Threescore furlongs is about seven miles.

Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem.

Away from the empty tomb.

Away from the other believers.

They had heard the report that morning that Jesus was alive.

And it did not hold them.

They were going home.

These were not enemies of God.

They were disciples who were done.

Now watch what Jesus does.

Verse 15:

"Jesus himself drew near, and went with them."

Read that slowly.

He did not stand in the road and block...Read More