Good Morning Friends,
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes,
Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again
Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon
son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third
time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I
love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17)
This is a moving story, aimed at showing how
important each individual is to the Lord and how much each one is loved by Him.
Peter had rendered himself unusable in the
kingdom of God. At least that’s the way it seemed. He had denied knowing the
Lord. Given the opportunity to stand with Him in His darkest hour, Peter turned
away. He saved his own skin. Not just one time, but three times.
Was Peter worthless to God? Had his denial made
him unusable from then on? Peter probably thought so. But not Jesus!
Peter was worth enough to God and loved
enough by God that Jesus took him aside to reaffirm his relationship with Him
and his place in the kingdom. As Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times on
the night of the trials, now Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his
love for Him. Three times Jesus let Peter know that he had an important place
in the kingdom, a place of service, a place of leading others.
As bad as Peter’s sin was God forgave it. As
bad as his sin was God still wanted him. As bad as it was God still trusted
him. As bad as it was God still loved him.
He said those things to Peter so you would
hear them, too. As bad as your sin is God forgives it. As bad as it is God
still wants you. As bad as it is God still trusts you. As bad as it is God
still loves you.
He’ll go out of His way to tell you that!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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