Great Is Your Faithfulnessಮಾದರಿ

Faithful to Forgive

We've all been there: we make big promises to the Lord, boast bold declarations of our allegiance to His Word, and surrender our all to fulfill His plan. And then our human-ness raises its ugly head and we fall short of the profession. Did we mean what we said? Typically, yes. But, as Isaiah wrote, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, ESV) David wrote, "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103:14 ESV) No phrase in all of Scripture could be more assuring to this recovering perfectionist than that one. Stitch it on a pillow. Hang it next to my mirror. Yes, I'm dust and fall short all too often.

Whether you find yourself falling on the mercy of God for the mistakes you have made or the opportunities to obey that you bypassed due to negligence, fear, or self-absorption, Scripture reminds us that when we know what to do, and don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). Bold, right? John shot straight when he wrote, "If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." (1 John 1:6 ESV) Sin is serious business, and it's not something we should handle carelessly, frivolously trampling on the grace for which Christ gave His very life.

Peter felt the weight of his own sin in the days between Christ's death on the Cross and His resurrection three days later. No doubt he replayed those preliminary warnings from Jesus in his mind when Jesus predicted Peter's future denial, times three, and assured him that He had prayed for him in advance. Perhaps the fellow disciples were expressing anger at Peter's betrayal when they were all counting on him to steady them in an otherwise panicked pandemonium. Or maybe they encouraged him, reminding him of the character, tenderness, quick-to-forgive-ness of their Savior and Friend.

Peter assuredly felt regret, grief, conviction, and shame. But would he ever have the chance to repent before Jesus? How could he move forward without the desperate reset required?

You and I both know that Peter would be trusted by God again and Christ's words about him were fulfilled as the Early Church was launched and documented throughout the Book of Acts. But let's not skip over the crucial, yet divine model of forgiveness that was provided by Jesus Himself. From the Cross, Jesus prayed in His anguished condition, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV) In each of the Gospels you'll find a unique account of Jesus's resurrection and the days that followed before He ascended to the Father. We have record of Peter's denial and Thomas's unbelief, but nothing is mentioned about the other disciples (aside from Judas the Traitor, who took his own life in regret) and their own need for forgiveness. But when Christ appeared to "His brothers", He intentionally assured them of His desire to have relationship with them by regenerating them through the Holy Spirit's work.

John records in chapter 20 that one of Jesus's teachings, post-Resurrection, featured the work and act of forgiveness--the one He modeled and expected the disciples to implement into their own lives. Today you'll read from John 21 when Jesus reinstates Peter, giving him three fresh opportunities to affirm his love for and allegiance to Christ, making up for the three times he denied Jesus. Luke also wrote of Jesus's mandate to "preach repentance and forgiveness". It was upon the principles of repentance and forgiveness that the very Kingdom of God on earth would be established.

God is faithful to forgive. Will you receive that forgiveness in its fullness today?

Dig a Little Deeper

There's so much more on the power of God's faithfulness to forgive to discover throughout His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His forgiveness to you through the countless accounts in Scripture and meditate on one of those passages today. And per Jesus's teaching, as you have been forgiven, choose to forgive others. We will talk about this a little more tomorrow.