Do You Love Me?

I believe we have all been disappointed by a friends lack of support at some time in our lives.

What if we look at Peters' three denials of Christ (John 18) and think of our own. At some time or other we have all denied Him and felt the worse for it. Not promoted Him when we should.

Then if we uncover Jesus' reaction to this failure in Peter, to stand with Him when it counted. It was the most satisfying discovery as it helped me to see His incredible mercy to a friend who had sorely let Him down.

In (John 21) Simon Peter do you love Me? – do you love Me? – do you love Me? three times

He didn't say “why did you deny Me?” - “how could you treat a friend like that in His hour of need?” He just absolved him, washed him in acceptance, “go be My disciple” or to be exact “feed my lambs/sheep”.

At the time of his denials – what could have been going through Peters' mind? How could You, being who You are, allow those creeps to treat you like that? I saw You Transfigured! I've seen the power You possess!

Or was it just fear of the incredible cruelty of the Romans? What do you think? Although fear didn't seem to be high on Peters' list. He did jump out of the boat. Some people think the fact that he sank shows fear but how many of us would have got out of the boat in the first place I wonder?

I suggest that we are no better than Peter as we all have our own opinions. Sometimes they lead us to the most undesirable reactions of spite or self righteousness.

So if we …..

Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)
   
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

We will have a better chance of getting it right when it comes to this forgiveness battle. God please help us to relate with each other like You? ....as ....


The World Needs Our Footprints ... Love Jen