03/01/2025
Do we love Jesus without wavering? Do we love Him as much as He would like for us to? This is what I am mulling over in my mind this morning. I am asking myself if my faith is sufficient, and if my love for Jesus Christ is deep enough. I am also contemplating how I could possibly face failure if the answer to either of these questions was no, and if Jesus would, or could, still love me if that were so.
Every time I think I have reached the point in my faith in which my love is true, I somehow deny Jesus. I do it in ways that often are subtle in their nature, but nonetheless, I deny Him and my soul aches at the realization of my failure. However, the pain I feel isn't all bad... it encourages me to do better in the future, and I ache because I truly do love Him... just not perfectly yet.
Peter learned this lesson just as we do today. He felt that his love for Jesus couldn't be shaken and that nothing was stronger than his commitment to Him, but then he was faced with a challenge and shown otherwise. I am reminded of Jesus asking Peter three times if he loved Him, as He asked Peter to bring the gospel to His flock. Let's read...
“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17 KJV
Then after answering "Yes" each time that Jesus asked whether he loved Him or not... Peter was told that he would indeed deny Him; not just once, but three times. In hearing this Peter was incredulous and adamantly argued that he would not deny the Lord!
“Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”
Matthew 26:33-35 KJV
Yet, despite all of his strength, and love, he denied Jesus three times... just as He had said... Three times before the cock did crow.
“One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”
John 18:26-27 KJV
This isn't an apostle who was weak in faith, but one that Jesus called the rock on which He would build His church. This is the apostle that could save souls and forgive sins, and yet when faced with a challenge of faith he failed the test.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19 KJV
So, Jesus already knew that Peter would pledge his love, and that he would deny Him three times, and yet He affirmed his calling and his strength of faith. Despite his weakness, Jesus called him strong. There is hope here for us... Jesus doesn't see us as perfect unfailing beings... He sees us in all of our frailties and shortcomings, He recognizes us for who we are and yet He still loves us, calls us, teaches us, and sees promise in us.
We are much like Peter, we truly love the Lord, but we are also human with human failings. We have fears, and certain emotions that will cause us to deny Jesus if allowed too much reign in our lives. But, we are also like Peter in the fact that Jesus sees the promise in us and looks beyond who we are, to who we will become. It would be easy for us to give up hope when we deny Jesus, but although it wounds us deeply, the love of the Lord nurses our wounds and lifts us to our feet once again.
Jesus doesn't let our denial of Him destroy His faith in us nor diminish His Love for who we will become... so we shouldn't lose our faith in His ability to love and forgive us either. We, like Peter, should lift ourselves up and in contrition, humility, and prayer, seek to restore our relationship and faith... not just to what it was, but to a place of much greater strength. Jesus loves us without fail... so let’s remember His love always and pray that our children will be reminded of our love for God and Jesus Christ when they think of us, just as we are reminded of Peter’s love in our days, our hopes, and our dreams.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us, despite our imperfections, and never let us lose sight of you when we stumble, or deny you in any way that can’t be rectified. Let us understand that even when we fail, you see in us the person you are leading us to become, not one who is eternally lost. Lord, give us the strength of Peter, and though the pain of our failures may pierce us, perfect us through our suffering that we too might become a rock on which you can depend. Holy Father, your forgiveness and love knows no bounds; you love us even in the knowledge of our weaknesses and future failures. You love us in the promise of our perfected faith, and not solely on the evidence of the wavering faith we might demonstrate for you in any moment of human weakness. Heavenly Father... may we never deny you, but if we should, we pray that you will welcome us home once more upon our return and petition for forgiveness... welcome us as Jesus welcomed Peter and welcome us as the father welcomed his prodigal son. Call us your beloved sons and daughters who wish only to love and bless you in our lives. Father, merciful and full of grace are you, who shows us the true power of these attributes in yourself while forgiving us after we have failed you and need them most. Praised be your name always Holy Father… even when we prostrate ourselves before you and humble ourselves in contrition. Hear our praise as we proclaim it in all our lives, especially in those times when we find it hard to look up at you in our shame. Show us then the eternal strength of your everlasting promises which remain true despite any momentary failures, and which give us a lasting hope in the eternal nature of your goodness, love, mercy, and grace forevermore. Amazing are you who can love in such a way, and who can lead broken men, women, and children to perfection in Christ. In all of this you deserve the glory, for you are our God our provider, our protector, and the love in all our lives. To this truth may we all say Amen!
Amen!
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”
Colossians 1:27-29 KJV
Rich Forbes