Every Woman's Bible Journaling Edition, Filament Enabled - Book - Page 50
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Shalom
I M AG E
MY STORY OF MY
UNI QUE INFLUENCE
Jesus Restores Us to Lead
SCRIPTURE CONNECTION: JOHN 21:15-19
Grieved and humbled by his threefold betrayal of Jesus, Peter was forgiven and given a
threefold commission to seek, nourish, and shepherd Jesus’ flock. This teaches us the good
news that nothing from our past keeps us from a hopeful future of faithfully serving Jesus.
We can see how Jesus restored and prepared Peter to lead:
1. Brokenness revealed. Early on, when Peter saw a
miraculous catch of fish, he fell at Jesus’ feet and said,
Nothing in our
“Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man”
past keeps us from
(Luke 5:8). As Jesus predicted, Peter denied him three
times before the rooster crowed, even though Peter
a hopeful future
had promised he would lay down his life for Jesus (John
of serving Jesus.
13:37-38).
2. Love declared. Jesus asked three times if Peter truly
loved him. Peter now understood that Jesus wanted
to heal his shame-filled heart. He got that Jesus knew more about him than Peter knew
about himself. He knew that there was no brokenness or sin that Jesus could not heal if
Peter truly loved him. And Peter did love Jesus.
3. Commissioned to follow Jesus and serve. Like Jesus fed and cared for his own disciples,
Peter was told three times to do the same for Jesus’ followers. Even when serving meant
suffering, his suffering would bring God recognition and praise.
Sometimes we need simple truths told to us more than once. As we embrace being
forgiven sinners, as we love Jesus, and as we say yes to his purposes, you and I become
fishers and shepherds of people. Nothing in our past keeps us from a future of serving the
one who knows, loves, and commissions us.
IMAGINE
What brokenness in your
life does Jesus want to
heal?
How does Jesus know you
love him and want to follow him?
“My love for Jesus has
opened the door for him
to heal my brokenness. It
qualifies me to follow him
and to seek and shepherd
his followers.”
MARY SCHALLER, MDiv,
is the former president
of Q Place and coauthor
of The 9 Arts of Spiritual
Conversations. Her life
mission is to build and
nurture Christ-centered
communities.
