Devotionals

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Remember Your Commission!

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John 21: 17-18 (NKJV)

Peter, who had loved Jesus with such enthusiasm, was filled with guilt. He had emphatically stated that he would not deny Jesus, but when it came to it, He did deny Jesus three times. In the account of this in Luke 22:61, we see that as Peter denied Jesus the third time, Jesus turned and made eye contact with him. Can you imagine how that must have felt for Peter? He went away and wept bitterly. Jesus would have watched these things, and with his heart of compassion, wanted to go and comfort Peter. But this was a time of strengthening for Peter. He had to learn who he was and grow stronger in his faith. Jesus knew that He would die, rise again in three days and he knew that when he returned, he would go and commission Peter.

Can you imagine being Peter when Jesus turned up by the sea to make breakfast? He was desperate to get to Jesus. He knew that Jesus knew all of his failings and he probably wanted to make things right between them. But Jesus straight away tended to him, first by meeting his practical need of food and then by asking him for a confirmation of his love to Him. Jesus knew how Peter felt toward him, but Peter needed to grasp the level of love that existed between them, which would later strengthen him to build the early church. Peter needed to get over the feelings of guilt and failings and forgive himself. Jesus straight away commissioned him. First of all He told Peter to “Feed My lambs,” then he told him to “Tend My sheep”, and then He told him to “Feed My sheep.” What a job he had been given! From the baby Christians to the growing church, Peter had been given a huge task to do.

Peter was never going to be able to get on with his job if he listened to the lies that Satan would want to impart into him, reminding him of his guilt and his shame. But instead, Peter needed to remind himself of the commission that Jesus had given him.

Write down your commission. In Habakkuk 2:2, the writer is told to “write down the vision and make it plain on tablets. That he may run who reads it.” This is something I firmly believe is for all believers to do. Write down the vision that you have so that you are constantly reminding yourself of your commission. When you are encouraged, run with the vision. When you are discouraged, run with the vision! Write it plainly and keep it as a constant reminder of what you have been commissioned to do. Then when guilt and shame try to creep into your life, read aloud the vision and remind yourself that Jesus did not think it necessary to remind Peter of his failings, only to commission him for his future.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, that You have taken my guilt and shame as I've confessed my sins before You. You choose to remember my sins no more, so please help me to let go of my failings and hold on to my vision that You have given me. I choose to believe You and Your word for my life so that no matter how I am feeling, I can run with the vision that You have placed within me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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