[Discoveries] 01-13-07 No elephants in this room

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*Peter was upset ... -- John 21:17 The Message
*/
If your feelings could talk, what would they say?

God often brings us to the place of looking inside, because it is in the 
"inner parts" (Psalm 51:6) that He wants to do His work.

In John 21, we have an uncomfortable meeting between the Risen Lord and 
the man who denied Him three times. Jesus doesn't try to smooth things 
over. Instead, He stirs them up! He brings the shame and hurt that Peter 
felt right out into the open.

Jesus does not minimize. He does not ignore. There are no "elephants in 
the room" when Jesus is there. He wanted to restore Peter, and He knew 
the only way to do it was to get out the scalpel and do surgery on his 
soul.

Peter said that he would follow Jesus to prison and to death. But his 
promise was empty, a bunch of hot air. Peter now knows how little he has 
to offer. He's not entirely sure that Jesus will take him back. So Jesus 
brings all this shame and uncertainty out into the open. Then He tells 
Peter the truth.

"You are restored. You will feed My sheep. After a long and faithful 
life, you will follow Me to prison and to death."

God's word to us is transformational when it reaches us in the 
vulnerable place of our feelings.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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