Is Grateful For God’s Patience

Is Grateful For God’s Patience

A HERO’S TALE

Peter was overwhelmed with remorse. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Scared, confused, and grief stricken, he fled from the courtyard of the high priest.

He had just denied his Lord three times.

As one of the disciples, Peter had spent the previous three years with Jesus. He had listened to Jesus’ teachings, seen dozens of amazing miracles, and put his faith in Jesus as God’s Savior.

Then came that fateful night when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. To save his own skin, Peter deserted Jesus with the rest of the disciples, then claimed three times that he didn’t know Jesus. It was a huge failure on Peter’s part.

But this was only one of many sinful blunders by Peter. He often misunderstood Jesus’ teachings and spoke or acted without thinking. Once, he scolded Jesus (see Matthew 16:21-23), and in Gethsemane, he even tried to kill a man (see John 18:10). Peter was a big mess.

Yet Jesus still loved him. After Jesus’ resurrection, he forgave and restored Peter despite his denials (see John 21). Peter eventually became one of the key leaders of the early church and a powerful witness for Jesus. He even wrote 1 and 2 Peter, two great books of the Bible.

Peter is a great example of God’s patience toward us!

DECODING THE MESSAGE

It’s easy to pick on Peter since the Bible mentions so many of his mistakes. But honestly, we’re all more like Peter than we probably care to admit.

Have you ever lied, stolen, cheated, pouted, complained, shown impatience, disobeyed your parents, been selfish with your toys, yelled at someone, hit a sibling or friend, or called someone a name? Of course you have. We all have. Peter was a big sinner, and so are you.

But here’s the good news: God is patient with you, just like he was with Peter! God is not a three-strikes-and-you’re-out type of God. He lovingly offers us many chances to repent and follow him.

Peter knew this better than anyone. In his second letter, he wrote that God “is being patient. . . . He does not want anyone to be destroyed” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let’s make something clear, though: God’s patience is not a free pass to do whatever we want. Christians have a responsibility to obey God and imitate Jesus. But it does mean that God is a loving, patient God. He’s not going to zap you because you mess up. He’s going to lovingly speak to your heart and lead you toward godliness, if you’re willing.

Praise God for his patience!

BATTLE PLAN

Read all of Psalm 103. Then thank God for his patience toward you.