Where is Jesus when I need Him the most? Well, we saw in our last post on this subject, that “He”, Jesus is always with us. That is, to those who have said “Yes” to Him, as Lord and Savior.
Also, take heart, my friends! For He is even with us when we have done wrong!
Not that He condones our actions or says that our wrongs are right. For that’s a big “N-O”. Instead, He is always pulling for us, to do what is right.
I have counseled some people and told them concerning the bad habits or sins, which may have tripped them up in the past. Especially, the ones which seem to come up over and over again.
That the next time they find their selves in the middle of whatever it is, that thing which is wrong. To start confessing, I thank You Lord that this bad habit, this sin, does not have power over me any longer. I thank You, Lord Jesus, that I am righteous in You.
I have right standing with God, my Father. Because greater is He that is within me, then the he that is in the world, 1 John 4:4b.
I have heard of people who have made this confession while in the act of adultery. They said God delivered them and took the desire to cheat on their spouse away.
As a result, they repented for what they had done; committed their life back to the Lord, and made things right with their spouse. Now He has restored them to the point that they have an even better marriage than they did before.
Why?
Because our God is in the restoration business. He only wants what’s best for us. So, on one hand, He can read our mail, (tell us what we are doing or going to do, and let us know it is wrong.) But then, He never wants to leave us there in our faults and failures.
Instead, He is always looking to woo us back to Him. Standing right there beside us with His outstretched arms! Telling us that He still loves us and wants to have a relationship with us.
Now take a look at this example from the Word of God, which backs up our statements. This story or recording of events, happened in three of the four gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recorded what Jesus said to Peter about him denying the Lord.
We pick up this story when Jesus was about to be betrayed by Judas and handed over to the chief priests. Which then led to Him being crucified on the cross for our sins.
Let’s take a look at it from Matthew’s gospel. Mat 26:31-35 (CSB)…Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
Mat 26:32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Mat 26:33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.”
Mat 26:34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Mat 26:35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.
Notice Jesus, told Peter of an upcoming denial or wrong that he was going to do. Then Peter says, Lord, even if I have to die with You, I will not deny you.
Shortly afterward, Jesus was betrayed and taken to the Jewish council. They brought up false witnesses against Him, spit in his face, beat Him, slapped Him, and mocked Him.
Meanwhile, Peter was outside in the courtyard. So, let’s pick back up the story here… Mat 26:69-75 (CSB)… Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
Mat 26:70 But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mat 26:71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!”
Mat 26:72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
Mat 26:73 After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”
Mat 26:74 Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,
Mat 26:75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
In Luke’s gospel, it adds one more detail. It says after Peter denied the Lord three times and the rooster crowed. That Jesus turned and looked at Peter. (So, not only could Peter hear what was going on with Jesus, but he could see Him too.) Then Peter remembered the words of the Lord and went outside and wept bitterly Luke 22:60-62.
My friends, you can’t get much lower than that on a guilty conscience scale! I mean you just denied the Lord, God’s own Son. Especially, since you were one of his followers and you just spent the last three years of your life with Him. Wow! That’s a tough pill to swallow!
However, after His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. Look at these precious words of Jesus, through the angel, to Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, who had all bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
The young man clothed in white, the angel said this in, Mark 16:7 (CSB) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”
My goodness, gracious! If there was anyone who felt like Jesus could no longer trust or believe in them, it was surely Peter. But the angel delivering the message from the Lord said go and tell the disciples and “Peter”. He called him out by name!
My friends, sometimes it may feel like we are so far away from God because of our actions or feelings. But if we listen for His still small voice calling out to us. There’s no doubt, He is doing so and He is calling us by name. Oh Hallelujah! J
So, where is Jesus when we need Him the most? He is with us! Plus, He is always looking for a way to regain a relationship with us. Especially, if we have strayed away from Him and we felt like we didn’t deserve Him anymore.
Oh! What an awesome, mighty, and loving God we serve! Thank You, Jesus! 🙂
#Jesus #JesusIsAlwaysWithMe #NeverAlone #GodsPromise #TakeCourage #Hope #SolidRock #RightBesideMe #BlessMe #MightyGod
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