15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Three times Peter denied Christ at His courtroom appearance, and now three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. Does this show that Jesus has forgiven Peter for his denials? I think so. Does Jesus REALLY forgive us when we deny Him? Absolutely!! That is the beauty of who God is. I have learned so much about who God is and again here, I learn that He is a forgiving God but that there are also consequences to our actions. Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep, to teach others about who He is. Although this was a consequence for Peter, his actions would not lead to his salvation. That's the same for us. When I have to image God in my life, to love Him, to trust Him and to obey Him, that doesn't earn me anything but it is something God asks me to do and I have an obligation to do it. God promises to be my God/Father and I am obliged to love, trust and obey Him and to image Him in my live. That's it!! Even better, God helps me to do it because I can't do it out of my own strength. He sends His Holy Spirit into my heart so I CAN do it. Give God the glory!!
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