Forgiven

I was recently struck again by this passage:

"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly" Luke 22:61-62 (NIV).

Just like Peter, Jesus looks right at us, sees us in our sin. We may fool some folks sometimes, but He sees us always. Yet, His love for us is overwhelming. Think of what it must have been like for Peter in that moment of bitter weeping, realizing what His Lord had said and then seen. Peter knew that He'd been known in a way only Jesus can know us - a way that, sometimes, exposes our shame. Yet, look at what Jesus did with Peter!

When I reflect on this, I am humbled by such a profound forgiveness. Forgiveness means starting over, it's a new starting place, it's the opportunity to begin again. Peter disowned Jesus three times, as He was betrayed in a terrible way by the world He came to save. And Jesus saw. And, He loved him.

Peter is no different than you or I. He sees us. He sees our sin, our shame and our failings. And He loves us. And you & I can be rocks upon which He furthers the purposes of His church! Don't let the lies of Satan confuse your mind. We fall. We fail. But we are not without hope. His sacrifice is our hope. His love is our freedom. His forgiveness of is our beginning. Honor that! Live into that! Think of how grateful we all should be that Peter didn't stop there, after that moment of weeping and hide for the rest of his life in darkness and shame. He let Jesus do what He came to do. He let Jesus erase his mistakes and make more of him than he could have ever made of Himself. The same is available to you. Embrace it!