Peter perfect?
Soul Snack 38/12 ... Peter perfect?
A penitent Peter, a petulant Peter and may be just an impatient Peter kicked the sands of a dawn Galilee with head hung low while His resurrected master probed him. He who had been called to build Christ's church, who had been handed the Keys to The Kingdom stood afresh before the Keys owner (see Matt 16:17-20).
Peter had failed big-time. This beaten messiah Peter had fled at his master's greatest time of need. Yet now a risen Jesus stood before him, still caring, still chatting and still calling.
There was an intangible sum to this reincarnated saviour that Peter wrestled with in his mind - why does He still even bother with me after my mess-ups and foolishness? Yet bother Jesus still did.
The third time Jesus 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". (Jn 21:17)
Jesus invited Peter past his weakness to ministry in His kingdom ... His message was clear: 'you are not damaged goods. Your failure has not changed anything between us. You're still in the family.' #
Both your demolitions and your damage simply invite His hand of love to be extended further AND your sin does not halt your call.
...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Roms 8:39)
Today's Soul Snippet:
A heart captured by Jesus' love is a heart set free.
#Wayne Jacobsen, He Loves Me! (Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media 2007), 77