[New post] DayBreaks for the Week of 11/28/22 – A Bad Christian but a True Lover
Galen posted: " Have you ever had a conversation like this with yourself (and with God eavesdropping in on your thoughts?) "Why did I do that? I know better than that! I'm so sick and tired of this. I know I shouldn't do this but I just am so" DayBreaks Devotions
Have you ever had a conversation like this with yourself (and with God eavesdropping in on your thoughts?) "Why did I do that? I know better than that! I'm so sick and tired of this. I know I shouldn't do this but I just am so weak. I'm a miserable worm of a human being, a spineless, weak failure. I'm sure God can't love me or accept me anymore because I can even love or accept myself."
I would have to imagine that perhaps two people in history had that conversation REALLY seriously: Judas and Peter. The betrayer and the denier. I don't know about you, but I've been both. And Peter betrayed Jesus right after boldly and confidently proclaiming that he would NEVER deny Jesus, even if he had to die right alongside Him!
Yes, Peter could have really gotten down...and I know he did because Scripture says he went away and wept bitterly after the third crowing of the rooster on that fateful Good Friday.
I've struggled in life with those feelings myself. I can't understand how I can listen to "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman and weep tears every single time I hear it because I'm so in awe of God and His great love and mercy...and then turn right around and betray and deny Him mere moments later, either through my thoughts or actions. Why, God, why? How is it possible for a human being to be so torn and two-faced?
I love the way William Barclay explained it in his Daily Study Bible commentary on Luke 22: "Even in spite of his denial he (Peter) was fundamentally loyal. H. G. Wells once said, "A man may be a bad musician, and yet be passionately in love with music." No matter what Peter did, however terrible his failure, he was nonetheless passionately devoted to Jesus. There is hope for the man who even when he is sinning is still haunted by goodness".
That's me in spades. Even while sinning, I am haunted by goodness. Perhaps that's what makes my sinning so painful.
PRAYER: Oh, Jesus. I am a denier and betrayer and a bad disciple and Christian, but I do love you passionately! Thank you for loving me, just as you loved Peter, and covering my terrible failures with your blood. Thank you for this encouraging perspective on our failure and Your goodness! In Jesus' name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment