His Compassions Never Fail

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:21-23 

As I was jogging earlier this week I was reminded about a past failure- a time that I denied the Lord. I wasn't a Christian at the time, so it wasn't like I said I don't believe in God or something like that, but God had placed a truth before me and I denied it.  I could see that clearly now.  Hind sight is 20/20.  I thought of how often I have denied the truth, the light, denied doing what was right.  By denying the truth and the light, I was denying Christ.  Some might think it was an attack from the enemy, but I really do believe God brought it back to my remembrance to restore me and because he wanted me to share it with someone in my life later that day.  A deep sorrow came over me and took my breath away.  It kind of stopped me in my tracks and I felt compelled to kneel.  Well it just seemed weird to kneel on the side of the road.  I didn't want to make a scene or cause someone concern.  I thought someone might see me and think I was hurt or something.  So I decided to walk a little more up the road to this little park.  I found this nice spot in the plush green grass under a tree.  It was the perfect spot to meet with the Lord.  I felt the cool morning breeze on my face and it was nice. I prayed. I wept. I praised.  My denial had always made me feel like a coward.  Then I thought about Peter and how he had denied the Lord.  I thought about how he must have felt like a coward.  I could really relate to Peter in that instant.  His story really resonated with me.

Matthew 26:31-35 (NIV)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

 

Matthew 26:69-75(NIV)

Peter Disowns Jesus

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

There was something that changed in Peter when he wept bitterly.  I believe it was repentance and a heartfelt sorrow for his sin.  Then I thought about how once Peter came to his senses he was willing to be brave for Jesus.  I thought about when the resurrected Lord appeared to the disciples while they were fishing and how Peter jumped out of the boat to run to Jesus.  He couldn't wait to see Jesus, to be with Him, to talk to Him.  He was ready to follow Jesus with all abandon.  What happens next is so beautiful- Jesus restores Peter. Jesus doesn't say, "I told you so" or even bring up Peter's denial. Rather Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  Then he does it twice more.  The same amount of times that Peter had denied Jesus he was able to affirm his love for Jesus.  Then Jesus commissions Peter, "Feed my Sheep."  Jesus' love, compassion, forgiveness and restoration is so sweet.  None can compare.  It's astounding! It's the kind of love that will forever change a person; the kind of love that will compel you to forsake all to follow Him, the kind of love that you want to tell others about.

John 21:4-8(NIV)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples While Fishing

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Then I remembered the Peter we see in the book of Acts.  He is a different Peter than we see in the gospels.  We see him speak in power like one with authority and many come to faith in Jesus through his ministry.  He is not cowardly.  He is brave.  He is courageous.  I can only hope and ask God that he might use me like he used Peter.  That I would proclaim the gospel with power and that many might come to know Christ through me.  This is my prayer.  Use me Lord.  Yes, Lord, I love you.  I love you.  I love you.

Acts 2:38-41 (NIV)
Peter Addresses the Crowd
³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.