Throughout this year, all of my blog posts have led to this point––repentance! To repent is to feel or express sincere regret about our wrongdoing. This is otherwise known as being contrite. In such a state, we are most apt to turn away from our willfulness and head toward a willingness to live life God’s way. This mindset typically moves us beyond just feeling sorry for our actions, toward a true change of heart. Now that we've reached this point in our studies, let us take time to contemplate the importance of moving from recognition of our human condition, to transformation in The Lord.
Every act of sin involves a way of thought and behavior that is out of line with the Father’s will. Because this applies to all people, except Jesus, our Creator has tolerated billions upon billions of sinful acts from humanity—mine and yours included. Talk about patience! The apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). Why is God so patient with us? The obvious answer is that He loves us.
The case of Peter offers an excellent example of the transforming power contained within a contrite heart. This disciple denied the Lord three times the night of His arrest. He, too, could have chosen the same route as Judas and ended his life, but instead he allowed his breakdown to usher in a breakthrough. Following His resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples on more than one occasion. The third time happened after Peter and some of the disciples had been out fishing all night. When morning arrived, they still had caught nothing. But then Jesus appeared on the shore and instructed them to cast the net on the right side of the boat (see John 21:1–6). The result was an enormous haul of fish. But once Peter learned it was Jesus, he jumped overboard and swam the length of a football field to meet Him (see John 21:7–10). One can only imagine Peter’s angst. There on the shore was the Son of God, the One he professed he would die for yet ended up denying three times. Perhaps in Peter’s mind, he thought: This is it! This is where He really gives it to me for betraying Him. One gets the sense that he could no longer stand the distress of it all. In that moment, his occupation mattered little. The excitement of the big haul of fish was of no importance to him. The moment he anticipated since he first discovered Christ had arisen was now at hand. Irrespective of the consequences, he had to know what would become of him? Was there any hope?
I'm sure we can all relate to Peter. Who among us has not had every intention of following after The Lord, only to turn tail and run (to one degree or another) when matters went from bad to worse? But the account of this disciple does not end here, tune in for my next post to delve deeper with Peter!
Desiring to walk in the power, love, and soundness-of-mind of Christ? Pick-up a copy of my book, The Conditioned Mind.
Every act of sin involves a way of thought and behavior that is out of line with the Father’s will. Because this applies to all people, except Jesus, our Creator has tolerated billions upon billions of sinful acts from humanity—mine and yours included. Talk about patience! The apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). Why is God so patient with us? The obvious answer is that He loves us.
The case of Peter offers an excellent example of the transforming power contained within a contrite heart. This disciple denied the Lord three times the night of His arrest. He, too, could have chosen the same route as Judas and ended his life, but instead he allowed his breakdown to usher in a breakthrough. Following His resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples on more than one occasion. The third time happened after Peter and some of the disciples had been out fishing all night. When morning arrived, they still had caught nothing. But then Jesus appeared on the shore and instructed them to cast the net on the right side of the boat (see John 21:1–6). The result was an enormous haul of fish. But once Peter learned it was Jesus, he jumped overboard and swam the length of a football field to meet Him (see John 21:7–10). One can only imagine Peter’s angst. There on the shore was the Son of God, the One he professed he would die for yet ended up denying three times. Perhaps in Peter’s mind, he thought: This is it! This is where He really gives it to me for betraying Him. One gets the sense that he could no longer stand the distress of it all. In that moment, his occupation mattered little. The excitement of the big haul of fish was of no importance to him. The moment he anticipated since he first discovered Christ had arisen was now at hand. Irrespective of the consequences, he had to know what would become of him? Was there any hope?
I'm sure we can all relate to Peter. Who among us has not had every intention of following after The Lord, only to turn tail and run (to one degree or another) when matters went from bad to worse? But the account of this disciple does not end here, tune in for my next post to delve deeper with Peter!
Desiring to walk in the power, love, and soundness-of-mind of Christ? Pick-up a copy of my book, The Conditioned Mind.
