Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:40:39 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Apr. 25); BP: Jn. 21:15-23; RBTTY: Lk. 18:24-43; II Sam. 21-22
April 25 “Still Usable”
“He said unto him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’
Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’
And he said unto Him, ‘Lord, You know all things—You know that I love
you.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Feed My sheep’.”
John 21:17
His all-seeing eyes see our “want to,” not our “won’t dos” or “didn’t
dos.”
Have you ever wondered how agonizing it would be to be omniscient?
Think about it: If you had the ability to know everything about everyone. .
.what they were thinking... what they were going to do before they did it. .
.the “hidden desires” of their heart, etc., how would that affect your
attitude and actions toward them?
Hmm. . .maybe that’s why Martin Luther, in commenting on John 3:16,
once said “If I were God, I would have already obliterated the world!” Yes,
it’s good we’re not an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God;
otherwise, none of us would have any hope!
Today’s Manna is one of the most beautiful in God’s Word. Why is that?
Because it speaks of our Lord’s “pursuing” love and His willingness to
“look beyond our faults and see our needs.” Hallelujah!!
We know our Lord didn’t need anyone to tell Him anything about
anyone—then or now (Jn. 2:24-25). He knows everything about us from the
time we’re “being knitted in secret in our mother’s womb” (Ps. 139:15-16)
until our last day here on earth. He knows the number of hairs on our head
(Mt. 10:30) and the number of tears we’ll shed in a lifetime (Ps. 56:8).
Thus, Jesus’ questions to Simon Peter on the Galilean seashore that
morning weren’t intended to condemn; instead, they were intended to help
this guilt-ridden disciple realize that He was both forgiven and still
usable to Him. Our Lord had already told the brash, braggadocios,
salt-tongued former sailor that he was going to deny Him before the night
was through (Lk. 22:31-34). However, He also told him He was praying for
him and would still use him after he came to his senses.
In reality, Jesus’ charge to “Feed My lambs and sheep” (vv.15-17) are a
restatement of His words of “Strengthen your brothers” in the upper room
(Lk. 22:32). No doubt Peter’s guilt had caused him to think he was useless
to the Master—and maybe that’s why he went back fishing after having seen
the Risen Lord three different times already (Jn. 20:19-21:1-3). How
wonderful to know Jesus’ call to us is not cancelled when we sin! Glory!!
Oh, dear Pilgrim, it’s truly by “God’s mercies that we’re not consumed;
His compassions fail not—they’re new every morning. Great is His
faithfulness” (Lam. 3:21-23). Therefore, let us give thanks today for our
Lord’s “Land of New Beginnings” (II Cor. 5:17), knowing that He can still
use us after we’ve sinned (Jer. 18:1-6) and can use everything in our lives
for our good and His glory (Joel 2:25-26; Rom. 8:28).
_________________________________________________________________
Mortgage rates near historic lows. Refinance $200,000 loan for as low as
$771/month*
https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h27f8&disc=y&vers=689&s=4056&p=5117
No comments:
Post a Comment