"Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. " Jeremiah 33:3

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

"I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you, I don't deserve to be called your son. He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him." Luke 15:18-20 MSG

Can you relate to the story of the prodigal son in today's title text? I can. And if you have ever felt like you had blown it so bad that the Lord would never forgive you, well today's post has your name on it.

Luke 22:31-32 contains one of the richest, most revealing looks into the heart of Christ that we have anywhere in Scripture. This is Jesus talking to Peter; "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Jesus is about to be arrested and His disciple Peter who has told him that he would go with Jesus to prison or even to death, will end up denying Jesus three times. Jesus knows it and that is what He reveals to Peter. What can we learn from this exchange?

Satan must have permission to touch any believer in the Lord Jesus. And Jesus sets the parameters of just how far he can go.

Jesus knows everything about us, he knows when we will fail Him, He knows all about our sins, He knew everyone of them on the cross, before He ever called us by name to believe in Him and be forgiven and born again! While we were yet sinners Christ died for us!

Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny Him three times before the cock crowed the next morning. Yet He didn't pray that Peter wouldn't sin, He was going to take care of that on the cross. Please don't miss this, Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail! Listen to the revealed heart of Jesus, in these sweet words, "I have prayed for you" spoken by Jesus to His disciple that would shortly deny even knowing Jesus not just once but three times.


Jesus prayed that His faith wouldn't fail. God hates sin in part because of what it does to us, it separates us from God. And then we feel so condemned and guilty that often times we believe the lie from the enemy that God can't or won't forgive us and so we run and hide. Just like Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden. Jesus knows us, He made us, He is aware that we are but dust and that is why He prays for us, that is why He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail.

Then Jesus tells Peter when you have turned or repented go strengthen your brothers. Jesus already knows how Peter will feel but He encourages Him that once he has repented he is to minister to His brothers! This is huge!! Not only has Jesus interceded for Peter, encouraged him but now He is telling Peter, my plans for your life Peter have never changed! Wow! How many prodigals need to hear this that they are forgiven, and not only that but that God will still use them in His kingdom work. Can you imagine how humbled Peter was and humble is a very good place to be.

Romans 8:28; "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Do you see the good that has come out of Peter's sin, countless believers, countless prodigals have been encouraged to repent and return knowing that Jesus is interceding for them too. Many a proud prodigal has come out on the other side, humble and totally surrendered to the Lord. God's plans for us do not change for God is greater than our sins and failures!

God is waiting with open arms for you too, here is how I know. Lamentations 3:22 NLT; "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease." Philippians 1:6 NASB; "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Jude 1:24-25 NLT; "Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to Him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!"

So prodigal, what you waiting for? Repent for your Lord Jesus is waiting for you with open arms.

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