Hey, you.
Yeah, you.
The one over there, who thinks you’ve messed up too big or too often. Surely God doesn’t want you anymore, if He ever did to begin with.
I have a story for you.
It’s about a man named Peter.
Gotta love Peter. Fearless, impulsive, on-fire-for-Jesus Peter. I’ll-never-deny-you, no-not-me Peter.
He left behind the life he knew (fishing) to follow the One who gave His life so God could be known.
So you can imagine, when Jesus told Peter during supper one night that he would deny him, what Peter’s response was. A passionate, “No way!”
Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!”
Bold words for a bold man. And yet….
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying–I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind…And he broke down and wept.
Despite Peter’s claim, despite living and eating and walking with Jesus for years, Peter messed up. Big time messed up. Pretended-not-to-even-know-Jesus messed up.
And you want to know what Peter did after he failed so royally?
He went back to the life he had BEFORE.
Before Jesus came and rocked his world.
Before Jesus showed up and invited Peter to become a fisher of men.
Never mind that invitation. Surely it had expired.
Peter started fishing for regular old fish again.
Because how could he be used for the Kingdom now?
He was a mess up.
And here’s where the story gets good. Like, sit-up-and-pay-attention good.
You want to know what Jesus did?
He came after Peter.
It’s one of the things I love most about Jesus.
He doesn’t leave us in our messed up state.
He comes after us.
Peter went fishing for fish, and Jesus went fishing for Peter.
Jesus found him and He told him, “Feed my sheep.”
No more fishing, Peter. Put away your fishing ways.
Feed my sheep.
Kingdom work.
You know what Peter went on to do? He established the Church!
Friends, nobody is too messed for God to use.
Nobody is too messed up that Jesus won’t come after them. (<–click to tweet)
Not you.
Not me.
It’s a story worth remembering.
Let’s Talk: Have you ever thought that God could no longer use you because you messed up too big or too much?
Thank you for this, Katie. It definitely speaks to me.
That God will come after us, no matter what, is probably the most important hook on which I hang my faith. It makes it real for me.
And it is a vital concept in general, that knowledge. During the Viet Nam war, aircrew knew that if they were shot down, no effort would be spared to come and get them out.
Things are different now. The prevalence of MANPADS (shoulder-launched SAMs)in the modern battlespace has made the perceived cost too high (in terms of SAR resources being shot down), and the downed pilot may be on his (or her) own. The effect on morale has not been good, or so I am told.
We need to know that we are valuable enough to fight for, to come after – and worth enough for the risk of everything.
Yes, Amen Andrew! And wow….what a real-life analogy. Thanks for stopping by!
Katie,
I love Peter … I identify with Peter. He’s real. He’s not perfect. I can’t hang around with perfect people — no matter how many years I tried to pretend I was one.
That’s just a path to exhaustion.
So yes, I’ve had my share of mess ups. Times when I thought surely God would say, “I’m done with you.”
But then I discovered God’s lavish grace — and no it’s not cheap.
And that’s where I choose to live — in the wide open spaces of his grace.
I love that Beth!!
Our pastor preached a sermon recently entitled ‘Grace is free, but it isn’t cheap’!