Monday Thought – January 4, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ 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. Early in His ministry, Nathaniel was brought to Him and Jesus knew what Nathaniel had been doing before got there. At a time and place where Jesus was not present He still saw what was happening. Jesus saw into the hearts and minds of those around Him and knew what they were thinking and what they were planning to do. He could tell Peter about Peter’s future. Miraculous knowledge that was evidence of the divine nature of Jesus.

But the most impressive feature of this scripture is God’s heart and 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 time of Jesus’ life – during His trials. That had to hurt 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.

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.

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

His, by Grace, Steve