Verses: John 13 : 36 - 38
My thoughts about the verses:
Imagine for one moment what must have been going through Peter's mind. He loved Jesus with all his heart. He knew that Jesus loved him. He had truly accepted that Jesus was the Messiah that had come to set him free. He loved Jesus so much that he was willing to lay down his life. Then Jesus tells him that you will deny me before the rooster crows. Wouldn't you have been shocked? How could Jesus even say such things? Doesn't he know that you love him and that you would do anything for him?
We have all been in this place at one time or another. I know that there were times in my twenties that I thought God has forsaken me. That he doesn't love me and I denied even knowing the presence of God. I was ashamed of who I was. I did not want people to dislike me because I was a Christian. So there were many times after I was outed that I denied Christ.
I can remember one time in particular that I was so mad at God that I even said that God did not exist. In my heart I believed that there was a God. Yet, I knew that he hated me because of the fact that I was a Lesbian. I had grown up in a Church that taught that being Gay was an unforgivable sin. I can remember at one point the pastor was even being targeted because of the stance he had made against Gays. I was no longer welcome in the Church so that must mean that God was no longer in my life. I actually felt that I had lived a lie thinking God was ever there in my heart. I can remember how alienated I felt when it came to God. My life was turned upside down because being who I was meant that I was no longer one of God's children.
One of my lowest days one of my professors stopped me and wanted to talk to me. He had seen how I was so depressed and he was really worried. I told him how everything was how I felt alienated and unloved. He did something that I will never forget he called his pastor and set up an appointment for me to talk to him. I walked in that Church mad and walked out filled with love. This man didn't know me and has never seen me again. Yet, what he did was tell me that God loved me. That I was wondrously created and that all I had to do was believe. This is when I realized that it wasn't God who had left it was me. I had put up a wall out of anger. So I truly understand how you can turn your back and deny the one who is given you everlasting life.
Now I know Jesus is with me in all things. I go to an affirming church. This means they love and accept me for who I am. I am also a Deacon and am able to shower others with unconditional love. So if you are in a place where you do not think God loves you. Just think of all the things that God has done for you. Be assured that God is with you even when you build walls. Jesus is there to break down those walls if you will only allow it.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for never leaving us. Thank you for breaking down the walls that will build to separate ourselves from you. We ask that you take away anything that we have placed between us and you. We thank you for carrying us through the hard times in our lives. Dear God help us open our heart so that we can feel the love that you freely pour out on us. In your Holy Name we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever worried that God was not there with you? Have you allowed God to break down the walls that you have built? What can you do to show others the love of God?
My thoughts about the verses:
Imagine for one moment what must have been going through Peter's mind. He loved Jesus with all his heart. He knew that Jesus loved him. He had truly accepted that Jesus was the Messiah that had come to set him free. He loved Jesus so much that he was willing to lay down his life. Then Jesus tells him that you will deny me before the rooster crows. Wouldn't you have been shocked? How could Jesus even say such things? Doesn't he know that you love him and that you would do anything for him?
We have all been in this place at one time or another. I know that there were times in my twenties that I thought God has forsaken me. That he doesn't love me and I denied even knowing the presence of God. I was ashamed of who I was. I did not want people to dislike me because I was a Christian. So there were many times after I was outed that I denied Christ.
I can remember one time in particular that I was so mad at God that I even said that God did not exist. In my heart I believed that there was a God. Yet, I knew that he hated me because of the fact that I was a Lesbian. I had grown up in a Church that taught that being Gay was an unforgivable sin. I can remember at one point the pastor was even being targeted because of the stance he had made against Gays. I was no longer welcome in the Church so that must mean that God was no longer in my life. I actually felt that I had lived a lie thinking God was ever there in my heart. I can remember how alienated I felt when it came to God. My life was turned upside down because being who I was meant that I was no longer one of God's children.
One of my lowest days one of my professors stopped me and wanted to talk to me. He had seen how I was so depressed and he was really worried. I told him how everything was how I felt alienated and unloved. He did something that I will never forget he called his pastor and set up an appointment for me to talk to him. I walked in that Church mad and walked out filled with love. This man didn't know me and has never seen me again. Yet, what he did was tell me that God loved me. That I was wondrously created and that all I had to do was believe. This is when I realized that it wasn't God who had left it was me. I had put up a wall out of anger. So I truly understand how you can turn your back and deny the one who is given you everlasting life.
Now I know Jesus is with me in all things. I go to an affirming church. This means they love and accept me for who I am. I am also a Deacon and am able to shower others with unconditional love. So if you are in a place where you do not think God loves you. Just think of all the things that God has done for you. Be assured that God is with you even when you build walls. Jesus is there to break down those walls if you will only allow it.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for never leaving us. Thank you for breaking down the walls that will build to separate ourselves from you. We ask that you take away anything that we have placed between us and you. We thank you for carrying us through the hard times in our lives. Dear God help us open our heart so that we can feel the love that you freely pour out on us. In your Holy Name we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever worried that God was not there with you? Have you allowed God to break down the walls that you have built? What can you do to show others the love of God?
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