Most times we believe that God loves us, as long as we are making good decisions, resisting temptation, and treating people right. No matter how good of a person you are, there will be times when you don’t perform perfectly, when you should not to say anything, but you said it anyway, or you said that it would be last time, but you did it again.
When we don’t perform perfectly, it is easy to think that God is far from us. When we blow it, it’s easy to think that God will never have anything to do with us. We think, “God will not listen to my prayers after the mistakes that I have made.”
The truth is when you fall God doesn’t turn away from you, He comes running to you. When you blow it, God is not going to say, “too bad you had your chance.” No, He comes after you with greater passion.
You may have blown it, but you are still a child of God. You may have let God down, but He will not let you down. You may have lost faith in God, but He didn’t lose faith in you.
God often reminds me of His disciple Peter when I get down on myself and feel useless to God as a result of my mistakes. Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends. There were multitudes who followed Jesus wherever He went. But the Bible mentions seventy-two who were a bit closer to Jesus. Within the seventy-two, there were twelve who occupied a special relationship with Jesus. And within the twelve, there were three who were very close to Jesus, probably what we would call today his best friends. Of those three was Peter, a common fisherman.
Once when Jesus was speaking about the way he would be killed for the good of man and His disciples would scatter, Peter spoke up and told Jesus that even if everyone else deserted Him, he would not. Jesus answered Peter that even before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny even knowing Jesus three times.
Just as Jesus predicted, Jesus was arrested and brought to a mock trial, before ultimately being killed by crucifiction. While at that trial, Peter stood a shirt distance away. While watching the trial, three times people came to Peter, recognizing him as Jesus' disciple, and asked him if he was with Jesus. And three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus. In fact, the third time Peter was asked, he cursed so the individual would believe him. Immediately, the rooster crowed as Jesus predicted, Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter went out weeping bitterly, knowing what he had done.
I am sure that Peter felt like God did not love him after the betrayal, that God would not want him anymore, that God could not use him for anything. But this was far from the truth, Just three days later when several women went to Jesus' tomb to anoint him as was customary in burial, they were met by an angel and an empty tomb. Notice what the angel said to the women:
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:6, 7.
Did you notice that Peter was the only disciple the angel mentioned by name? This was no accident. God knew how Peter felt about himself, and although God had already forgiven Peter, Peter needed to know that God was not mad at him, loved him and wanted him still.
Not too long after this, Peter and the other disciples were fishing. Unknown to the disciples, Jesus was standing on the shore. Jesus called out to the disciples and asked them if they had caught any fish. The disciples answered no. Jesus told them to throw their net into the water on the other side of the boat, which they did, and their nets could not contain all the fish they caught. Immediately, the disciples knew it was Jesus. They rushed to the shore, Peter even jumping into the water swimming to shore.
After they finished eating, Jesus turned to Peter and said:
“Simon son of John, do you 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 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.
Notice, Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him. Why did Jesus ask Peter this same question three times? Yes, because Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus didn't do this because he didn't know the answer to the question. Jesus did this for Peter. Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to declare his love for Jesus three times to relieve the guilt in Peter's own mind for the betrayal. At the same time, Jesus publicly reaffirmed three times that he still loved and wanted Peter.
You see, God is not looking for perfect people. He knows we all make mistakes. Instead, God is looking for people who have hearts that love Him and are committed to Him, despite mistakes. Second Chronicles 16:9 states, “The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them.”
It does not say that God is looking for perfect performance, but God is looking for people who have hearts committed to Him. It means that even if you make mistakes, your heart is quick to run back to him. Your heart desires to honor him always, even if you fail sometimes.
Nothing you have done or could do is a surprise to God.
You need to keep walking with Him, because He loves you no matter what.
His loves is bigger than any mistakes that you have made. Don't give up on God as He has not given up on you.
Blessings friends!
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