Regret to Redemption--Peter

 

Have you ever said or done something you really regret? I can think of about a bajillion things I've said and done, and I usually relive them in the middle of the night. Remembering makes you cringe at the least, and mourn bitterly at the most. Regret is debilitating, disabling you from moving forward and completing your purpose.

We are just finishing a blog series on "Lament" in my group Much Needed G.I.R.L. Time. As I was preparing the last few lessons, I read John 21. In verses 15-17, Jesus famously asks Peter if he loves Him. Peter says "You know I love You." And each time Jesus answers "Feed my sheep." By the third time, Peter is grieved that Jesus has asked him three times.

I've heard plenty of sermons on the different forms of the word Love that Jesus used when asking Peter if he loved Him. The love of God, the love between brothers. But I saw something different this time. (The Bible is never boring--always expect to be learning something new!!) In Luke 22, Jesus is being led away to be tried and crucified. Hours before, Jesus announced that Peter would deny Him three times before morning. Peter assured Jesus that he WOULD NEVER deny Him, for sure not three times. But he did. And on the third denial, he heard the rooster crow. Morning. Jesus turned and looked at him, and Peter remembered what He had said. Peter went outside and wept bitterly. The Message says he went out and cried and cried and cried.

Three times, Peter denied Jesus. Three times, Jesus made Peter say out loud that he loved Him. He has big plans for Peter in the church--feeding His sheep--but Jesus also knows that Peter is paralyzed by the regret that lines up to remind him of what he said and did. So Jesus--so kindly--redeems Peter's regret. Jesus leads Peter to replace "I don't know Him!!!" with "I love you".

Don't let your past words and actions disable you, paralyze you from fulfilling your God-given purpose. Let Jesus free you from regret, so you can follow Him.

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