By Melissa Shaver

I remember a time in my life when God prompted me to tell someone about Christ. A family friend and I sat outside after dinner one night catching up in conversation after years apart. We picked up right where we left off, talking over each other in excitement as we recalled our childhood experiences. Though we looked much the same, we had matured—graduated from college, found successful jobs, engaged in serious relationships. Pretty soon the light, superficial chatter turned to a more serious discussion about life goals, family values, and partners’ living arrangements. Within minutes, it was obvious that we approached life with radically different perspectives.

She hadn’t changed. I was the one going in a different direction. I’d given my life to Christ several years earlier, and everything in me spoke of His present, guiding effect on my decisions. I felt increasingly tense as God opened my eyes to see my friend’s need for Him, and I could sense Him encouraging me to share my life-changing story.

Instead, I came up with excuses. I thought of the embarrassment of a night ending prematurely because of awkwardness. I feared her rejection would abruptly terminate our friendship.

God continued to nudge me to speak of my love—to testify of His work in my life and my undeniable allegiance to Him—but my heart continued to whisper, “Not now, Lord.”

Then, deep in my spirit, I felt the sting of a cock’s crow.

I had denied my Lord.

Has there been a time in your life that you denied Christ? Have you made the mistake of fearing a ruined reputation over publicly loving your Savior? Were you, like me, wondering if He could ever forgive you of such a selfish act?

Despite what many believe to be the end of favor with God when they sin and deny Christ, we serve the One who forgives all sin and extends mercy to the most undeserving. Peter experienced this forgiveness. He knew firsthand what Jesus meant when He said, “I have come not to condemn but to save.”

As Jesus approached His death and resurrection, He told Peter that before the night’s end, he would deny knowing Him three times. Peter rejected such a thought of turning his back on his Savior, but what Jesus promised came to pass. During Jesus’ trial, when Peter was questioned about his friendship with the Lord, he acted as if Jesus were a stranger.

Then, after Christ conquered death, it was Peter He requested to know of His resurrection immediately, and He met with him alone before spending time with the other disciples.

While forgiven, however, Peter had not forgotten. And surely his denial of Jesus was fresh on his mind when, just days after the resurrection, the disciples—struggling to grasp all that had taken place—rowed back to shore after a night of fishing.

Much to their disappointment, morning had come with no fish in their nets. As is His nature to come when we’re tired and frail, Jesus showed up to encourage them with word and deed. Seeing that the disciples had nothing to show for the night’s work, He advised them to throw their nets on the other side. The enormous amount of fish they caught made them question whether they could even haul the catch to shore. Jesus also prepared a fresh, hot-off-the-grill breakfast for the tired men that awaited them when they returned.

Can you smell the aroma of the wood fire as you think of Christ sitting with you today? Like the disciples, you might have come off an emotional rollercoaster of a week and, in the confusion, wondered what to do next. Jesus knows what you’re going through. He comes to encourage you in word and deed: “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Squinting from the morning light, Peter heard Jesus’ voice and recognized his Savior. He knew the weight of a boatload of fish and judged that his swimming abilities could get him to shore faster. He jumped into the sea and thrashed toward the beach. What a joyous yet humbling occasion for Peter--Jesus’ continual love and friendship never failed.

After the meal, Jesus talked with Peter and asked him three times, “Do you love me?” Peter confirmed his love, but his answer wasn’t a straightforward “yes.” Undoubtedly recalling his past unfaithfulness, Peter might have questioned how he could ever love Christ with the same sacrificial love that Jesus had poured out on him.  When Jesus challenged Peter to love profoundly—to love with a deep, committed love that would be demonstrated through shepherding His people and would ultimately lead him to a harsh death—Peter looked around and saw “the one Jesus loved” standing just a few steps behind them and asked, “What about him?”

Jesus’ response would catapult Peter into a life of serving in magnificent ways. “What is that to you? You follow Me.”

What about you? When God calls you to serve Him in ways that could bring risk, sacrifice, and suffering, do you look around and question why others aren’t being asked to make the same sacrifice? Like Peter, do you hesitate and take your eyes off Jesus? When you’re overlooked for that office promotion and another who is less qualified receives the honors, Jesus may be saying to you…What is that to you? You follow Me. When your prayer is answered in a way that’s opposite your request…What is that to you? You follow Me. God is calling you to a place where you trust Him daily. Comparing your life to another person only brings competition that can get in the way of the bigger goal—sharing the message of salvation to the lost.

Like Peter, when you take your focus off Him and place it on yourself or those around you, you immediately make room for doubt, confusion, jealousy, bitterness, and fear. The writer of Hebrews tells you to rid yourself of anything that is weighing you down, especially the sin that easily gets you so easily tangled up. By throwing off the weightiness of sin, you become free to run the race God has set before you. The only way you can do this is by keeping your eyes focused on Jesus. He is your champion. He initiates and perfects your faith.

Jesus foretold a life for Peter that he surely wouldn’t have planned for himself. But because Peter chose to obey—showing his love for Christ unashamedly and willingly—he became a great leader in the church. The book of Acts reveals that Peter paved the way for many to know Christ. Through the Holy Spirit’s boldness in him, he stood up to persecutors, healed the sick, and took the gospel to the Gentiles.

So today when Jesus waits for you to jump out of the boat and have sweet fellowship with Him, don’t hold back. Take the plunge. And when He leads your life down a path you wouldn’t have taken on your own, don’t hesitate but keep walking. Know that He wants to reveal Himself through you to those who need to know Him.

As you meditate on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection this month, ask yourself how God is calling you to love boldly. Do you realize that Jesus gave up His throne to come and live as a servant for you? He lived a life of great sacrifice and suffering on your behalf—taking the wrath that was intended for you so that you may live. Knowing at any moment He could have called on 10,000 angels, He silently—selflessly—ruined what many believed to be a future king’s reputation by submitting to the hands of sinful men and allowing them to torture him to the point of death.

The love He has conquers every obstacle that you may think holds you down. There’s only one question left to ask: Are you willing to ruin your reputation to publicly show your love for Him?

 

Melissa Shaver is Director of Walking in Grace Ministries .  Go to www.walkingrace.org to learn more.