SOUL AWAKENING COURAGE
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these? “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love You. “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love You.” “Then take care of My sheep,” Jesus said. A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep.”
John 21:15-17 (NLT)
It's difficult to run a race with a broken ankle; you must let it heal before trying to run on it. This isn’t a profound thought. But what about our souls? A lot of people try to run forward in life. They try to serve God or their family, but their soul is greatly wounded. We all have seasons where we need to heal. Why? Because it’s tough to run the race God has for you if your soul is still carrying some past pain or weight. In the verse above, Jesus knows this with Peter. Peter told Jesus that he would never leave. Yet, when the times got difficult, he completely caved into fear and pressure and renounced Jesus and his faith. As you can imagine, this created embarrassment, hurt, pain and doubt. Jesus wasn’t done with Peter, but He did need to deal with his soul.
Do you remember how many times Peter denied Jesus? Three. And notice how many times Jesus says, do you love Me? It’s three! Jesus isn’t trying to punish Peter; instead, He’s setting him free. Jesus is surfacing what Peter’s trying to suppress so He can heal it. God wants to set you free from your past wounds. He wants the pain, embarrassment and guilt to all be removed, and He wants to replace it with courage. Only the Gospel can do this. Only Jesus can do this.
Like Peter, we often run from our pasts. Peter went back to fishing. He didn’t think he had a future because of his mistake. Yet, Jesus found him. Isn’t it ironic that Jesus was at the exact spot where Peter was fishing? When you look up and face whatever pains you have in your past, you find Jesus is there. Jesus will surface your past, not to shame you but to set you free. No matter what you’re facing, something painful that has happened to you, something you did, or even something done to you, don’t run. Let Jesus set you free. He will give you a soul-awakening courage when you bring your hurts, habits and struggles to Him.
APPLICATION: Bring your pains into the light.
PRAYER: Ask the Spirit to reveal anything you’re holding onto that’s creating pain. Ask Him to set you free from those things. Ask Him what truth He wants to replace the lies with.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?