Jesus Saved You to Send You

He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
John 21:17, CSB 

Have you ever felt as though you messed up so bad that God could no longer use you? If you have had a relationship with Christ for any significant length of time, then there’s a good possibility that you’ve felt like this at one point. Peter experienced a feeling of uselessness after he denied knowing Jesus three times. However, Jesus knew that He could still use Peter, and He wanted to restore him. 

In John 21:1–17, Peter had gone back to fishing after his huge failure. He felt that God was finished with him. God had a different plan, though. In this section of Scripture, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Peter’s third response was much different from when he boasted before—when he said that he would never deny Jesus (see Matthew 26:35). This time, however, Peter says, 

“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17). 

Peter’s heart had changed, and the Lord knew it, so He restored him that day. Simon Peter went from boasting that he knew all to confessing that Jesus knew all. His love for Jesus opened the door for him to be used once again. 

PRAY: Thank God for His amazing grace. Thank Him that He is not done with you. Ask Him to constantly remind you that you are no longer defined by your past mistakes; you’re defined by who He says you are. 

ACT: Reflect on God’s grace. Let that build confidence in you to be able to share the gospel with boldness and humility. The important truth to remember today is Jesus knows your heart. You should never feel like God can no longer use you. He can still use and restore you. Use those mistakes as your testimony of what God has done in your life. Share that grace with your one.