In our sin we need to realize, Jesus looks right at us. Luke 22:61 “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”
Can you imagine how Peter must have felt when Jesus looked right at him after he denied ever knowing Him, saying, "Man, I don't know what your talking about!" (Luke 22: 60-62). It says that “he went outside and wept bitterly.” I would imagine, as long as he lived he probably never forgot the look on His Savior's face. I’m sure it effected him in a way that we all can all relate to at one time or another.
Peter, like ourselves, makes promises to our Lord that we break too. In one way or another we are all guilty of not serving the Lord with all our hearts because our human weaknesses get in the way. That’s the beauty of God’s precious grace and mercy. The conviction, but the unconditional love that is felt, is unlike ANY other. Do we feel ashamed? Enough to make us repent and stop doing whatever it is we shouldn’t be doing? God hears the cries of our hearts, and the prayers we pray in our weaknesses.
Jesus stands in our place bearing all our shame, waiting to hear words of repentance from broken people who turn from love, to love. I am so VERY thankful He saw in me all I could be, and wanted to be. He looked beyond my sin and shame and died to forgive me.
Peter was so sorry for denying Christ, that it led him to repentance and drove him forward to be one of the great disciples. A hard lesson for him, but all was used for God’s glory.
Growing up I never knew how my mom seemed to either know, or see right through my lies. I couldn’t hide a thing from her, and when I would get grounded, I would get so mad, but I was really more mad at myself for disappointing, and knowing I must have hurt her by her look at me. When I think of my parents, I think of all they’ve given and done for me. Now I know why those eyes that would look right at me in my shame, would just break me. I knew they were eyes of so much love and understanding, but also of disappointment.
Like Jesus, my parents wanted the best for me. Sometimes the lessons were hard to learn, but I am so thankful they saw all that was in me, because it made me the person I am today. THANK YOU Mom and Dad for your unconditional love for me. Because of you, I got a glimpse of Jesus growing up, and still do today by how you love me with all my faults. Thank you for looking beyond all my faults and seeing the best in me.
I am just like anyone else, a work in progress. Just because I’m a Christian, doesn’t mean you’ll always see me walking a perfect line. I get angry, afraid, anxious, and all the human weaknesses a human can have. But in them all... “I Hope You See Jesus.”
May you have the grace and peace of the Lord.
Kim
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