As human beings, we do well with stretching boundaries. We tend to want to see how far we can go.
The edge is always exciting. That is until we loose our balance, and…well, fall.
The fall, is anything but fun. Especially when it means the end. But in the moment, or let’s keep it real several moments of apparently living, we loose all sensibility. Kindda like Eve. Maybe it’s that god complex of a thing that folks talk about. After all, the command was to go fourth and dominate.
Somewhere in the mix, in our everyday human interactions, we may talk the big talk. Make promises we can’t keep. Or let’s give the benefit of doubt and say that the intent was to keep said promise, but then ish happens and #ghost.
This brings me to Peter. You know, the one that talked big but then had a big Humpty Dumpty fall?
He messed up bad. Real bad. Like real real bad. He promised that he would never deny Jesus |Mark 14:29-31|. But he did. Not once, but three times. That’s a count for 3 rounds of epic fail. Let’s also not forget that in what some would call Jesus’ darkest hour, Peter fell asleep. Ya, the same person that some minutes before said something along the lines of, yo JC I gotchu, snoozed right after Jesus said, my soul is deeply grieved, and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death |Mark 14:34, amp|. He did however slice off an ear, does that count?
Lest we think we are better than that…
Hey girl, I gotchu’. I’ll definitely be praying for you about this. You can count on me. A half assed prayer later, and we are done, unto the next. Or, if you need anything, anything at all, call me, but then…ya. Or, I will always be here for you, but then not really. Do these sound familiar? It’s okay, we’ve all had those moments. #nojudgement
But back to Jesus.
We get so caught up in #YOLO living that we deny Jesus our time. We give all of ourselves in the daily pursuits of things, and deny Jesus the best of us. In our interactions we speak and act like they do because we want to be accepted, and in the process deny Jesus the opportunity to work through us. We drown ourselves in the world, and deny Jesus our hearts and ears. We have a huge following on social media but hide our identity in Christ, because we do not want to shake the table. We choose not to pay our tithe because, “I have bills to pay,” but we expect God to jump hoops for us. You see why we really can’t judge Peter? At some point or another, we have been him.
Peter cried in anguish when he remembered Jesus’ words, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times |Mark 14:72|. I too have found myself weeping, because I remembered Jesus’ words seconds after I did something ungodly. It’s easy to feel like you’ve gone way past the threshold of mercy and grace, and it doesn’t help that the devil is pretty slick with reminding us of our sins. He is into suggestive seduction, wooing into a bottomless pit of regrets, with the goal of keeping us there.
But listen…hear the heart of Jesus.
…and he said to them. Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.
In all my years reading Mark 16:7, I never gave and Peter, a second thought. But thank God for contextual revelation. I asked, and He really be giving.
So why was there a need to single out Peter? The angel could have just left it at his disciples. But nope, he had a point to make, and he made it. Peter needed to know that Jesus still considered him part of his crew. That he was still loved, and one mistake, albeit a pretty big one was not his final act. Peter was highlighted in the text as an example to us.
Peter expressed regret. The bible says he cried in anguish, and I assume asking for forgiveness. But we know how that goes sometimes. We ask for forgiveness, then the devil attempts to slide in the DM whispering things like are you really forgiven? Why stop now anyways? You can’t deny that you enjoyed that. Don’t you miss it? What’s the point?
Should that happen, remember Peter. There is hope still. Your heart is paid for. Salvation is yours. Declare it, believe it and receive it. But also guard it.
I am praying for you today, that you remember that you are loved. Yes, you may have done this or that, but grace abounds. All He asks is that you turn your heart back to him, and walk with him. I pray that God meets you were you are, and reveals his heart to you. I pray that you are so captivated by him, that everything else pales in comparison. I pray that you receive life more abundantly.
…and for you that seeks a more abundant (eternal) life. A prayer of salvation.
Heavenly Father, thank you for being so mindful of me. Forgive me for denying you my heart, while in the pursuit of worldly things. I believe that Jesus is Lord. That he is the one true savior. The way, truth and life. There is no better place to be than in your arms. I love you Lord, come into my heart, and dwell in me even as I dwell in you. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Happy monyaaaaaaay!
xoxo
Mel.
WateredSeed 