Crayons For Jesus


Monday, January 26, 2009 Print E-mail
And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren. Luke 22:32 (NKJV)

Christ gives Peter this instruction at the last supper. It occurs right after Jesus prophesizes that Peter will deny him. Christ knows what Peter will be “sifted like wheat” and though he knows he will fail, Christ continues to instructs him. There are two things we learn about our relationship with Christ from this circumstance and from this verse.

The first is that even before we fall, as we do daily, Christ already has in place a plan and a way for us to return to him. Proof of this is the entire story of humanity and the relationship we have with God. Before God created the world, he knew we would fall away from the order of things. Knowing this, he still created it and he created it with the route back to him already in place.

This shows us the passionate love and deep commitment God has to us. It makes no sense, but it is there, so we must accept it. It is proven again in this situation with Peter.

The second thing we are taught through this verse is that once we have traveled the road back to Christ, we must continue with our duty. Too often we listen to the enemy’s condemnation and allow him to prevent us from reaching our fellow brothers and sister in Christ.

Our sin is a door for him to condemn us to defeat and inactivity.

We must not believe our feelings, but we must believe the truth of our salvation and continued purification. We must also answer the call in this verse. When we fall away from Christ we are essentially falling away from the calling and work he has for us, so when we return to him, we must return to the work set before us.

The time to strengthen our brethren is when we ourselves are learning the lessons of disobedience. We have first-hand knowledge of the temptation and deception of the enemy and are returning to the path of true redemption, fulfillment, and obedience.

When is a better time to spread the message of grace than when we ourselves are experiences again the hundreds of facets to it?

Father God,
We thank you for constantly understanding our human failings. Your patience can be compared to no others.  Our failings are usually due to ignorance, but often times they are also because of our own stubbornness. Soften our hearts. Heal the wounds of our disobedience and renew our faith with your gentle and ever-faithful grace. Bestow on us the gift of it daily and teach us how to use our own failings to instruct our brethren in your everlasting way.  Show us the opportunity that our failings have to show more of the power of your grace and faithfulness. Thank you for lovingly providing a way back each and every time we fall. There is none like you. Amen.