Monday Thought -- August 15, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)

Jesus possessed supernatural knowledge. In the early days of Him ministry, Nathaniel was brought to Him and Jesus knew what Nathaniel had been doing before he came to Jesus. At a time and place where Jesus was not present He still saw what was happening. On more than one occasion Jesus saw into the hearts and minds of those around Him and knew what they were thinking and what they were planning to do. And here, He could tell Peter about Peter’s future. Miraculous, supernatural knowledge that was evidence of the divine nature of Jesus.

But that’s not the most impressive feature of the Scripture above. The most impressive feature is evidence of God’s heart and God’s mercy. I love the phrase that Jesus spoke to Peter, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was predicting Peter’s denial. Peter would turn his back on Jesus at the most critical and difficult time of Jesus’ life – during His trials and condemnation. How that had to hurt Jesus and disappoint Jesus. Peter’s sin cut into Jesus’ heart.

But God didn’t reject Peter when he denied Jesus. God wooed Peter back. God did that through telling Peter what was going to happen before it did; through a look that Jesus gave to Peter after he spoke the last denial, and through the intentional restoration that would come from Jesus when He met Peter on the shore of Galilee after His resurrection. God wanted Peter back. Not even his denial kept God from loving Peter and from a willingness to forgive Peter of all his sin.

And God did more than just forgive Peter and accept him back. In an astounding act of grace and mercy, God invited Peter to use even his failure to help others.

And God responds the same to you and me. He always invites back, even after our most grievous sin. He loves us and wants us back. He doesn’t forgive us; He uses even our failures to accomplish good things in our lives and in the lives of others.

His, by Grace,

Steve