Luke 22:59-62, John 20:1-4
Peter messed up... big time! The Lord told Peter that he was going to deny him three times before dawn. Peter vehemently denied it. However, Jesus was right. Peter did deny him and on the third time the Gospel of Luke tells us they made eye contact. He went away weeping, overwhelmed with grief.
Fast forward to three days later. Mary Magdalene comes and tells the disciples that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb. Peter and John run to the tomb. Did you catch that? Peter ran to Jesus.
Peter understood the character of His Lord. Peter understood forgiveness. I am not sure if I would have run to the tomb that day. Unfortunately, too many times in my life I allow feelings of guilt and failure to keep me from running back to Jesus. I forget that the Bible tells me that when I confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I forget that as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed transgression from me (Psalm 103:12). I forget that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Instead I allow Satan to beat me up with my sin over and over. Guilt washes over me and keeps me from the One who died to set me free from sin and death (Romans 8:2)!
Salvation is a free gift. There is nothing we can do to earn it, we just have to accept it and believe it (Romans 6:23 / Romans 10:9). Forgiveness works the same way. We don't earn it, but Jesus's death on the cross freely brings it! We have to accept his forgiveness, believe we have it, and then MOVE ON! What if Peter never accepted Christ's forgiveness and moved on to become the rock of the early church? What if David never accepted God's forgiveness for his sin of murder and adultery and never moved on to be a King that honored God and ruled Israel? What if Moses never accepted God's forgiveness for his sin of murder and never went to lead God's people out of Israel? What if Paul never accepted God's forgiveness for terrorizing and martyring the early church and never became one of the greatest missionaries of all time?
What if you never accept God's forgiveness and move on? What will you never see HIM accomplish through your life? Satan doesn't win when the war over your life when we sin. However, we let him win when we wallow in guilt and become ineffective for the Kingdom of God! Don't you know Jesus has the power to take your sin and turn it around for something good and for His glory? (Romans 8:28).
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
Run like Peter! God is waiting with open arms!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Always Be Prepared...
Ezra 7:6-10, 27
Even though Ezra was an exile in the land of Babylon, he was devoted to studying and obeying God's Word. When God called Ezra to go back to Jerusalem, in God's perfect timing, he was already prepared and he faithfully responded. Ezra found what we will find in similar circumstances: when we know and obey God's word, when we prepare and faithfully respond when God calls us, then nothing will hinder God's will from coming to pass. The best part... when we do it God's way, God gets ALL the glory!
In college I felt a strong calling upon the Lord to teach His Word. I even went forward one Sunday night at church for a "call to ministry". Several of the pastors at my home church told me that they were not surprised, but were actually waiting for God to reveal that call to me. However, as time passed and I became a wife and mother, that calling seemed to go on the back burner to my life circumstances. With babies at home, teaching was impossible! I was just trying to have time to have a personal quiet time with the Lord!
However, when my oldest daughter was 6 months old, I felt like God telling me to be faithful where I was then! I began to write devotionals on this blog. I knew I wanted to teach His Words, so as He revealed nuggets of Himself to me, I would simply write them here for "safe-keeping".
This spring, the Lord allowed me to witness, like Ezra, the gracious movement to walk in His will in His perfect timing. In a two month period, all of a sudden, I was asked to write two devotionals for the Women's ministry at my church and speak at two events. My personal life was crazy at the time. My oldest was/is super emotional as she prepares to go off to Kindergarten and my husband's work life was chaos. I was so blessed by the opportunity to finally speak His Words to others, but personally was struggling to find the time! However, because I was faithful to prepare for the "one day" I would teach HisWord, I was able to use two devotionals I had already written a year prior. In God's timing, the devotionals were shared.
All this to say... If God has placed a calling on your life and you have a restless spirit right now because you don't see how it is possible to do that call today... pray and seek where you can be faithful to start preparing today. David had a passion to build the Lord a temple, however the Lord gave that calling to Solomon. David did not begrudge God's decision, but spent time preparing and collecting supplies so that Solomon could do a great job in God's timing!
Always be prepared! God waste nothing when we give everything to Him!
Even though Ezra was an exile in the land of Babylon, he was devoted to studying and obeying God's Word. When God called Ezra to go back to Jerusalem, in God's perfect timing, he was already prepared and he faithfully responded. Ezra found what we will find in similar circumstances: when we know and obey God's word, when we prepare and faithfully respond when God calls us, then nothing will hinder God's will from coming to pass. The best part... when we do it God's way, God gets ALL the glory!
In college I felt a strong calling upon the Lord to teach His Word. I even went forward one Sunday night at church for a "call to ministry". Several of the pastors at my home church told me that they were not surprised, but were actually waiting for God to reveal that call to me. However, as time passed and I became a wife and mother, that calling seemed to go on the back burner to my life circumstances. With babies at home, teaching was impossible! I was just trying to have time to have a personal quiet time with the Lord!
However, when my oldest daughter was 6 months old, I felt like God telling me to be faithful where I was then! I began to write devotionals on this blog. I knew I wanted to teach His Words, so as He revealed nuggets of Himself to me, I would simply write them here for "safe-keeping".
This spring, the Lord allowed me to witness, like Ezra, the gracious movement to walk in His will in His perfect timing. In a two month period, all of a sudden, I was asked to write two devotionals for the Women's ministry at my church and speak at two events. My personal life was crazy at the time. My oldest was/is super emotional as she prepares to go off to Kindergarten and my husband's work life was chaos. I was so blessed by the opportunity to finally speak His Words to others, but personally was struggling to find the time! However, because I was faithful to prepare for the "one day" I would teach HisWord, I was able to use two devotionals I had already written a year prior. In God's timing, the devotionals were shared.
All this to say... If God has placed a calling on your life and you have a restless spirit right now because you don't see how it is possible to do that call today... pray and seek where you can be faithful to start preparing today. David had a passion to build the Lord a temple, however the Lord gave that calling to Solomon. David did not begrudge God's decision, but spent time preparing and collecting supplies so that Solomon could do a great job in God's timing!
Always be prepared! God waste nothing when we give everything to Him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
