Jesus Uses the Wounded
Matthew 16:15-18 (NIV)
‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Simon Peter answered, ’You are the Messiah, the son of the living God’
Jesus replied, ‘blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’
Simon Peter is a bit special. He’s enthusiastic about everything, reliable, trustworthy, and he really gets who Jesus is. Jesus gave him an incredible anointing: to be Peter the Rock, his confession of faith making him the first piece of the church Jesus is building.
Peter was devoted to Jesus and thought nothing could stop him from being constantly faithful. Jesus told him the time would come when, three times, he would deny knowing Jesus. Peter couldn't imagine this, but we know it did happen, and left Peter devastated, filled with guilt and shame. Peter the faithful follower, confident in all he had learned and seen from Jesus, ready to do anything asked of him - was disappointed and broken.
Have you ever felt confident about your faith, full of enthusiasm to serve God, but then felt you’d let him down?
I remember being part of a healing prayer group ministering at a large gathering. We prayed and fasted beforehand and were expectant to see remarkable healing. The first person I prayed for was in a wheelchair, very disabled with Rheumatoid Arthritis. My faith and expectation for God to heal slipped away, and I felt hugely disappointed to see no physical change.
I love that Jesus redeemed Peter by asking him three times if he loved him. The guilt and shame disappeared, Peter went on to speak to the crowds at Pentecost and thousands became believers. So often, God uses the wounded to bring healing and wholeness to others.
As for my scenario, I felt God tell me that this lady was wrapped in barbed wire and that she would be freed. She wept at this revelation; said she had put up prickly barriers because of her illness - as we prayed, she felt a freedom and joy she hadn’t felt for a long time.
Prayer - Thank you Father that you use the wounded healer to bring your glory. Help us to be strengthened by wounds rather than weakened, and ready to serve.