blog 26: a perfect god for imperfect people

I’m so thankful to be able to serve a God that doesn’t hold your mistakes against you. A God that is perfect so that we can go to Him with our imperfections. I think it’s  hard for us as humans to fully understand the love God has for us. To grasp this love that is always forgiving , always compassionate, and always after us.

My oldest daughter sometimes asks “mom will you ever stop loving me?”

I always tell her “Leila there is nothing you can do that will ever make me stop loving you.”

And that’s what God says to us:

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says He is convinced another translation says persuaded.

Convinced: completely certain about something.

I believe not being convinced that God loves you no matter what, can hold you back from a lot of good things, a lot of God things. I’ve been there, times when I’ve messed up and thought “yeah, no way God can use me now.” I’ve been in those moments where I don’t even dare talk to God because of my sin. I AVOID Him all together. I think “He doesn’t want to talk to me”…

I love looking at Peter, one of Jesus disciples. We all know this guy puts his foot in his mouth A LOT; he was devoted and ready to fight anyone for Jesus. BUT when it came down to it. He would deny His best friend, the one He walked with , He would deny His Savior.

Matthew 26:33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fallaway.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you,this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

I feel for Peter! He’s pumped up! He doesn’t understand what Jesus will actually go through. He’s like “nah! I’m with you till the end Jesus! Me and you!”

Then it happens…

Matthew 26:69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” 73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

..ugh can you imagine? Even reading my heart sinks and my throat closes thinking about how Peter must of thought. Dang! I did it. I denied Him.

Now in our human thinking. This is a biggest betrayal right? We as humans would never forgive someone who did this to us. Who left us, who denied us, who acted like they didn’t know us while we were being tortured! But Jesus in His perfect compassion looks at Peter in perfect love. He looks at me and you in perfect love. The story goes on and we all know Jesus gets taken to the cross. The one who said he would never leave him and would be with him even to death, is nowhere to be found.

This can be us. We turn our back on Jesus all the time and we stay in this place of regret, shame and guilt. We stay kicking ourselves. But Jesus is so good. So so good to us!!

After He resurrects He asks for Peter.

John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

Not only did Jesus not bring up all Peter’s failures and faults BUT He uses Him. He asks Peter to feed His sheep! What an honor!!

Matthew 16:18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Not only did Jesus forgive Peter but He used an imperfect person to build His church and to feed His sheep! If Jesus can use Peter who denied Him as He’s being tortured …why not you? Why not me?Do we mess up? Yes! Do we fail? Yes! But that should not keep us from being used. We cannot stay stuck in…”I can’t because I’ve messed up.” Or “I can’t because I might fail.” NO! That’s the beauty of serving God. He already knows!

Do you love God? Do you love God? Do you love God??? Then do His will. Stop holding back. Stop overthinking . Love Jesus. Do what pleases Him. Be used! Be willing! Imperfect people are who He is looking for. The devil would love to keep you in your sin, he would love for you to think that God cannot use you because you’re imperfect, because you fail. That is a lie. Thank you Jesus that you not only love and save imperfect people, but you USE imperfect people.

ONE LOVE FRIENDS!