for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it
to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Peter insists that he’ll never deny Jesus – even if it means he’ll die with Jesus. When Jesus is arrested, Peter follows him to the courtyard outside of where Jesus is being put on trial. He doesn’t go in to defend Jesus. Then, as we all know, he denies Christ three times in the courtyard to the people milling around – he doesn’t even make it to the trial himself. Yet the story gets much better. He repents, and becomes the rock of the church.
Judas turns against Christ too. However, he takes his destiny into his own hands. He lets guilt and shame overtake him, and he gives himself his own punishment – suicide. He denies himself the grace and redemption Christ offers him.
We pride ourselves in not being like Judas because we don’t commit suicide, and we acknowledge there’s grace and redemption for us. Or do we?
Guilt and shame is NEVER of God. It is ALWAYS the enemy’s doing. Yes, the Holy Spirit convicts us, but “godly grief produces a repentence that leads to salvation without regret. Condemnation of ourselves is not the Holy Spirit. Whatever shame and guilt you feel in any area of your life is not of God. I challenge you to repent of it and cast it off at this moment. Shame and guilt are not freedom, and freedom is God’s desire for us – our inheritance.
Here’s the best part. GOD REDEEMS EVERYTHING. In fact, what the enemy tried to use against you, God will redeem and use for HIS glory, purpose and will. Amazing, isn’t it?! God used Israel’s failures and groanings to show his glory. Jesus used Peter, who denied him, to be the foundation of the church.
We’ve heard our whole lives how God works for our good and that he completes the work he starts. But think about what that means for YOUR life. Your past and your messes- God has redeemed or is redeeming it. And he’s using it to complete the GOOD work he has already started in you. He will continue the good work in you until the day he comes to reign on earth.
Sit and think about what that TRULY means in YOUR life. Apply those promises to your life. Get the revelation for your life. We KNOW these things, but it’s not until we get the true revelation of them that we walk in them and live by them.
God wants to make you like Peter. He wants to make you a solid rock of his ministry. He wants you to build his ministry with precious stones, gold, and silver. (1 Cor. 3:11-15) You have that capability in your life.
LET God redeem you. RECOGNIZE the good work he’s completing in your life.
