You’ve Got A Friend In Me

John 21:17 NIVUK 
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. 

This passage gives me hope. Peter had messed up, and here is Jesus taking time to love and restore him even after he denied knowing Jesus three times. Jesus’ love for Peter was steadfast. Not only had Peter denied knowing Jesus as a friend, which is bad, he had denied knowing the Son of God. Not his best moment. Rather than turn away Jesus is not done with Peter yet. Instead of being thrown out of the eleven disciples, Peter is reinstated.  

While I grew up in a Christian family, I went down a different path as a teenager. I pulled away from God. Personal circumstances led me to a place of not trusting God, so I blocked him out. I carried the weight of the world and all my anger on my shoulders. I had no hope. While my mum showed me Hesed love, I was still lacking something. Spring Harvest 2004, I discovered what that was. A steadfast love and hope like no other.  

I came to faith because Jesus appeared to me in my mess, just like he did to Peter. Rather than judge me, as I feared he would, he loved me. When I sought out that youth leader I mentioned yesterday, it was to pray my first real prayer. The second one I prayed, brought literal transformation. This huge weight lifted off me: it was so significant my mum said I looked different. I physically looked lighter. I experienced that steadfast love and hope I so badly needed.  

There is something unique and transformative about Hesed love. We were created to need love; we were also created with the ability to give love. That's Hesed love. 

Prayer - Father, thank you for your steadfast love and hope. Help me to show this to the people in my life.