Did you think you'd blown it?

"(15) Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?"                   John 21:15-19.  NKJV

Have you ever felt that you've blown it - big time? I mean, have you ever said or done something and you think God won't forgive you, this time, because you've gone too far? This must have been the way Peter had felt when he denied Jesus three times, to save his own skin. He was heartbroken that he had let Jesus down in such a way, especially when he had told Jesus that he would lay down his life for Him. (John 13:37-38).

Peter was a broken man and although he still hung around the other disciples, there was no real spiritual flow from him. He had gone from being, Peter the Rock to just plain Simon Peter and this was the way that Jesus addressed him when He had been resurrected. Three times he asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter answered, 'Yes Lord, You know that I love You'. The type of love Jesus asked Peter this question in the first two times, was in Agape love, the highest expression of love. Peter answered in Phileo love, an expression of friendship. This was all Peter had at this time, and Jesus knew it. On the third time that Jesus asked the question, He met Peter at his level and asked the same question in Phileo love. Peter was grieved when he heard this again and this caused the Holy Spirit to speak through him when he answered, 'Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You.'

Jesus met him where he was, came down to his level. built him back up again and once more he was Peter the Rock, with a list of instructions, to feed the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.

When we have messed up big time we need to remember that, Jesus knows our heart. He knows that our intentions are not to walk away from Him but to serve Him the best way we can. However, occasionally we get it wrong, and that's where you may be at this time. 

Listen, Jesus knows your name; he knows your heart and he knows that you are sorry. Accept His forgiveness and let Him build you back up and set you back on the road again.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com