When You Have Repented

Reading: Luke 22; Psalm 56 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 NLT) This was a very intense time! Jesus was aware of the suffering he was about to endure. Judas had his betrayal plans in place. The other eleven disciples were jockeying for position in the Kingdom of God. Peter was about to protest his courage. Jesus saw Peter’s denial coming in the next few hours. Jesus, speaking out of knowledge that Peter would very soon deny that he even knew him, said, “I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail.” Then, also knowing that the Father would answer this prayer, Jesus instructed Peter, “When you get through this personal failure and turn to me again, I’m counting on you to be a strength to the others.” Jesus knew full well how badly Peter was about to fail him, yet he forgave him in advance, looked beyond this sin and failure, and saw Peter taking his role as leader and pillar of strength. I know that Jesus looks at me and sees the mistakes and failures yet to come, then looks beyond those to my repentance and “turning to him again” and forgives me in advance and prepares a plan for me to be a productive and positive influence on others. He does that for you as well! Pretty Amazing (Grace), isn’t it? I want that kind of grace on me, in me, and working through me! I want to be able to look at people and see them on the other side of their weaknesses, their mistakes, and their failures. I want to see the good they’ll do for their brothers and sisters because of the grace they’ve experienced from Jesus and from me! Prayer: Father, Thank you for seeing beyond my sins and failures again and again to a future in which I again and again repent and turn back to Jesus and influence others to get up and stand up and take another step of faith. Please give me grace to see beyond the immediate messes to the ultimate successes. Amen.