Anchorage: The Storm of Shame | Part 8 of 8Sample

From Shame to Union

The shame of sin has the power to make us feel worthless. It has the power to cripple us and keep us from doing the will of God because we feel we are not worthy. While God forgives us our sins and relieves us from the guilt and shame of sin, oftentimes, we cannot forgive ourselves, which becomes a major barrier for most of us.

Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him, to which Peter quite understandably took offense, saying that even if he had to die with Him, he would not deny Him. But as we all know, Peter did end up denying Jesus three times and wept bitterly afterward. Surely, he would have felt miserable, especially after he so vehemently spoke out when Jesus had predicted it earlier!

In all of this, a beautiful conversation between Jesus and Peter after the resurrection remains relevant. In John 21, when Jesus meets His disciples after His resurrection, He asks Peter three times if he loves Him. However, the aim of this questionnaire was not for Jesus to know whether Peter actually loved Him. He knew he did. It was, instead, to convince Peter, from Peter's own lips, that his love for Jesus, no matter how weak, was still real love. The gospel happens in the context of relationships. It's not a one-way street. With this fact established, Peter was empowered to love God wholeheartedly and shift past the shame. He could then be the 'Rock' on which Christ built His church.

At some point or another, we all, like Peter, have denied Jesus with our words, actions, and even our thoughts. In the aftermath, it's important to come back to the 'relationship' element of the gospel of love. Jesus loves to move in partnership with us, the dance between humanity and divinity. It's not just that God loves us; it matters that we love Him too. Oh, to love God and to be loved by God! It's a sure recipe for shifting from shame to a place of true union.

Reflection

Can you identify with Peter when he was heavy in shame? Imagine now a conversation between you and Jesus where He asks you three times if you love Him. Answer Him honestly. How is He empowering you to move forward today?