February 2, 2007

 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

 

--John 21:15-17

 

I can’t imagine what Peter’s heartache must have been like after he denied Christ…not just once, but three times! You have to believe that he was completely broken, ashamed, and hurting.

 

Not long after Christ’s resurrection, we find Peter back on the shores of the Sea of Galilee—the very place he’d first met Jesus. And there on that shoreline, the risen Christ came to Peter…forgave him…and completely restored him. 

 

Have you ever felt like Peter? Have you ever felt like you let God down…that you’ve done something so wretched you feel like your relationship with Christ could never be the same? 

 

If so, I want you to remember, Jesus loves you…and He loves you perfectly. The great Shepherd is your caretaker and He will lovingly, carefully restore and renew His sheep that fall away. And this includes you! 

 

If you know Christ, but you’ve wandered or lost your way, your Shepherd is seeking you and deeply desiring to restore you. 

 

No one knows you better than your perfect Shepherd. He knows your name. He knows your thoughts. He knows your needs. He knows the worst thing about you and loves you anyway! And He’ll never leave you or forsake you! Like I said, He loves you perfectly. 

 

 

if you feel like you’ve wandered far from god, remember your great shepherd is seeking you to restore and renew you.