Get over it!

 

A couple of years ago, we kept Max for several days. I know he thought Stephanie and I were boring. When you are used to living in a house with a lot of activity and all the sudden you find your self with two boring old people, you get bored. He just moped around the entire time. Well, that is not exactly true, he always got overly excited when I had to take him for a walk to the park. He could hardly control himself. 

Are you the type of person that mopes around when things are not going well? Do you withdraw inside you when you fail, when you sin, when you can’t get past a trial you are facing? The older I get the more I realize there is hope beyond my weakness, my failures, and my sins. 

Why? 

Simply, Jesus!

Christians are many things. Some are arrogant, some are proud, and some are over confident. Some are quiet. Some are bold! But, I would also say, true followers of Jesus can really be hard on themselves. They sin and repent and they are very sincere about that repentance. But, even after they have repented, they still mope around. They are like Paul when they do things they do not want to do. 

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:14-15)

Or when things go bad and against our expectations, we sulk and withdraw. 

Is that you?

Today, I have a story that SHOULD give you hope. I was reading John 21 today and Jesus’ interaction with a group of disciples at one of his appearances, after the resurrection.

“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘ you know I love you.’ ‘Then feed my lambs,’ Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said. A third time he asked him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Then feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But, when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, ‘Follow me.’ (John 21:15-19)

I am sure Peter was annoyed by Jesus’ repetitive question. I am just annoyed reading it. But, Jesus was sending a very personal message to Peter and he is sending one to us. Peter denied him three times. Jesus asked the question three times. Each time Jesus commanded Peter to either feed his lambs or feed his sheep. 

Jesus was saying, PETER I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU YET! Regardless what you do, regardless what you say, if we are repentant like Peter, committing yourselves to Jesus, we have no reason to think God cannot use us. As a matter of fact, Jesus SEEKS the lost and broken because when they share, they have rich, authentic stories of failure, mistakes, and sins. Jesus needed Peter to be his FIRST ambassador to the world precisely because he was flawed and much less than perfect. Jesus never gave up on Peter. He will not ever give up on you. You sin 70x7 and he is forgiving 70x7. He will no longer remember your sin and he will have plans to use you for his glory!

Yes, we have hope because Peter had hope and who can question his impact for the Lord? 

Jesus is saying, GET OVER IT. Get beyond your brokenness and serve me, IN that brokenness! Let that brokenness guide your compassion, your love, and your humility. Praise God for his perfect love, patience, and kindness with us, his flawed children.