“And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.” John 18:25 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Peter had just done the unthinkable! He had denied Jesus and, with a lot of swear words, insisted that he didn’t know Him. It didn’t matter that this was his closest friend on earth and, indeed, his teacher and master. Three times he denied Him!
Now, days later, perhaps he’s thinking that his denial of Jesus is unforgivable. So, he gives up and goes back to what he knows—fi shing.
The story goes on how the disciples fi shed all night and caught nothing. Then a stranger on the shore told them to put their nets on the other side of the boat. When they did, they caught tons of fish! Peter realized the stranger was Jesus!
When Peter came to shore, Jesus fed him breakfast and reassured him that he had been forgiven, that he was still needed, and that God had a big place for him in the gospel work! Read the story in Luke 22:54-62 and John 21:1-19. It’s really good!
Sometimes we can get like Peter and began to think we are unforgivable. We may look at what we’ve done and think we can never be forgiven. But like all the Adams, Eves, Pauls, Davids and Rahabs of the world, we’ll find that we can never go beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness!
Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and Your forgiveness. There’s been so many times I’ve come to You, and every time You’ve been faithful to Your Word! Thank You so much!
– Milly Jackson
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org