... John 21:15-23 ...
Hopefully, growing up you had fantastic parents and an amazing family. Like most children and nearly all teenagers maybe you disappointed them at times—times when you let the family down. However, you were likely never disqualified from being a part of the family. You were always accepted and the invitation to participate in the life of the family was never removed.
It is the same with our Father in Heaven. Imagine the shame that Peter must have felt after his denial of Christ in John 18. Now here in chapter 21, we see Peter restored in his relationship with Jesus.
However, he is not only restored to relationship. More importantly, he is restored to mission. Jesus, in His commissioning Peter to feed His sheep reminds the disciple that not only has his sin not disqualified him from God’s love it has also not removed Peter’s calling. “You are still invited to live the life I have for you, Peter. Live on mission. Follow Me.”
Christ calls us to live out the adventure of laying down our lives passionately for the sake of His Kingdom.
Our mistakes, our shame, our sin—nothing can separate us from God’s love—and nothing can separate us from God’s invitation to live with passion and joy the life we were created to live.
***
God, I praise You for both your perfect forgiveness and Your ongoing invitation for me to live as a part of Your family. Forgive me for believing the lies of my guilt and my shame. Forgive me for allowing the enemy to ensnare me in traps that keep me from living to advance Your Kingdom. Set me free and remind me that I am welcome to share Your story of redemption. I am seeking to follow You with my life, my time, my passion, my energy, my dreams. Use me as Your missionary to a world in great need.
Hopefully, growing up you had fantastic parents and an amazing family. Like most children and nearly all teenagers maybe you disappointed them at times—times when you let the family down. However, you were likely never disqualified from being a part of the family. You were always accepted and the invitation to participate in the life of the family was never removed.
It is the same with our Father in Heaven. Imagine the shame that Peter must have felt after his denial of Christ in John 18. Now here in chapter 21, we see Peter restored in his relationship with Jesus.
However, he is not only restored to relationship. More importantly, he is restored to mission. Jesus, in His commissioning Peter to feed His sheep reminds the disciple that not only has his sin not disqualified him from God’s love it has also not removed Peter’s calling. “You are still invited to live the life I have for you, Peter. Live on mission. Follow Me.”
Christ calls us to live out the adventure of laying down our lives passionately for the sake of His Kingdom.
Our mistakes, our shame, our sin—nothing can separate us from God’s love—and nothing can separate us from God’s invitation to live with passion and joy the life we were created to live.
***
- Remember a time you have felt justifiably ashamed over your own actions. What emotions or thoughts were primarily taking place for you?
- Dream of what specific purposes God may have for your life. In what ways have you allowed shame or fear to rob you from that experience?
- In what ways is God reminding you that you are, in Christ, still being forgiven, qualified and eternally invited to follow Jesus and live on mission for Him?
God, I praise You for both your perfect forgiveness and Your ongoing invitation for me to live as a part of Your family. Forgive me for believing the lies of my guilt and my shame. Forgive me for allowing the enemy to ensnare me in traps that keep me from living to advance Your Kingdom. Set me free and remind me that I am welcome to share Your story of redemption. I am seeking to follow You with my life, my time, my passion, my energy, my dreams. Use me as Your missionary to a world in great need.
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