Your daily responsibilities can feel all-encompassing at times. It’s easy to read God’s word, observe a bit of Scripture, and then carry on, often forgetting what you read. The truths of the gospel and your identity in Christ get muted to the superficial demands vying for your attention. Yet, when you can slow down and give yourself enough time to absorb God’s Word, it’s like a whole new realm of wisdom and wonder unveils itself.
You’ve sinned and the weight of it feels heavy. Shame tells you to turn away from God. You’ve gone too far. Or, it says that you need to try harder; to perform more for Christ in order to win His approval. Shame breeds shame. The more you try to perform for Jesus, the harder you push, the more you’ll see how you fall short. But shame tells you to keep going. That’s all you think you can do. But is that right? How do you break the cycle of shame and get right with God?
Let’s continue to explore this through Peter’s story.
Do you feel like you’re not good enough? Have you done a lot of awful things over the years, and feel like you can’t be redeemed from them? Has shame weighed you down?
Let’s look at how Jesus instructed someone who was about to feel the same way.
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve gotten to know Jesus on a more personal level. I chose to do the I AM’s study of Jesus at this time for a specific reason. I wanted to get our minds prepared for Easter – when we celebrate our victorious King.
Though this I AM is not part of the book of John, it is powerfully woven throughout Scripture, declaring God’s supremacy and intimacy to His people.
Michael and I were visiting my aunt’s church one Sunday. She quietly explained to us that they were about to start communion. They had two options for drinks: wine and grape juice…
How do you refer to yourself when someone asks you what you believe? Do you call yourself a Christian? A follower of Jesus? Or do you refer to the denomination you associate with?
Did you know that Christians used to refer to themselves as, The Way, after Jesus’ resurrection?
Have you ever forgotten to water your plants until they looked haggard? Then, you gave them a good drink and they came back to life again?
Have you seen a sick relative near, “death’s door,” only to bounce back and become well again?
Do you know what your name means? Have you researched it?
Did you know that the name Rachel means, Ewe – a female sheep?
Growing up, I used to say that name was fitting for me because I was as stubborn as a sheep. Determination and endurance to see what I wanted to come true were strong traits. Recently, the meaning of the name has changed for me. Instead of seeing myself as stubborn, the picture has tenderly changed to a little sheep yearning to follow her Shepherd.
When you were growing up, did you ever try to block your sibling from coming in a room? You stood behind the door, feet planted, trying desperately to hold him off as he pushed from the other side? It was difficult!