Jn 21:17-19 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. LESSON - Because Peter had denied the Lord 3 times publicly, it was necessary for him to confess it three times as well. Peter had left his occupational “nets” in order to follow Christ and become “fishers of men”. After denying the Lord and seeing him crucified, Peter was struggling within himself. Rather than repenting and moving forward, he returned to that which was familiar, fishing. Jesus compelled Peter to fully repent and return to his higher calling which was to Pastor and “feed” the sheep”. When we fall, in our defeat our natural tendency is to follow Peter’s example of returning to what “feels” familiar. Jesus desires that we face our sin, confess it, repent from it, and move to greater spiritual heights. Otherwise, you may find yourself returning to that which is “familiar” but accomplishing little for the cause of Christ. Prov 24:16 “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” If you fall, get up and press forward for the Glory of God!
~Mike
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