Listen! God has not done with you yet!

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 21:31-32)

Our Bible verse today reveals four facts: Number one is -our failures are known in advance by the Lord. Number two –He intercedes for us even before our failures, not just after our failures. If He intercedes even before our failures, it assures us He is on our side no matter what happens. Thirdly, the Lord wants us to turn back to Him from our failures and strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ. In short, He does not want us to quit and disappear. Fourthly, God is greater and more powerful than your adversary, the devil.  And the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4).

Jesus said to Simon Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him as wheat. Satan wanted to take Peter out of the race. He tried to destroy him and his testimony forever. Satan wanted to take Peter out of His calling in life. He wants Peter not to preach on the day of Pentecost and form the church by baptizing three thousand people. Satan does not want Peter to become the pillar of the Jerusalem church and of course, did not want to write two great wonderful, and encouraging Epistles later in his life. He wanted Peter to be destroyed right there and then when he failed.

However, The Lord had an entirely different plan. Dear ones, He has a different and superior plan for you as well. Lord Jesus knew Peter’s soon-coming failure and warned him about it. Jesus also told him He already prayed for Peter. Jesus looked forward to his turning back and wanted to make Peter stronger than ever before.

You see, we fail in different ways. A bad decision we made, an immoral act we did, bad words we used, a choice of a bad relationship, and many other ways. Now because you failed God and others, you may think God has done with you. I am here to tell you this,  based on the truths of the Scripture,  that the Lord would not wound and shoot his own people who are bought by His blood. People do but not the Lord. Now you may think about quitting because your failure was big and huge. No more church, no more prayers, no more Bible studies, and no more fellowships. Now you think you are no more worthy of these things. Remember, Peter felt the same way. He went to the old fishing career. However, the fact is no sin is higher than the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Peter denied Jesus three times. He said who this Jesus is? I never knew him. I do not know anything about him. Remember Peter claimed the same day a few hours ago this –“Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” However, just after a few hours on the same day the night, He denied Jesus three times. When he denied Jesus three times, Jesus looked at him, and he looked at Jesus. The look of Jesus broke him, and he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter knew he failed Jesus. He decided to go back to his old fishing job. He decided no more and nothing to do with Jesus. He knew his failure was classic and epic in proportion. He would have never come back without the mercy, compassion, grace, and love of Jesus Christ. Jesus sent a personal note for Peter after His resurrection and then followed him to the same place where he was originally called, waited for Peter, and reinstated him to the original divine call.

Beloved, do you think the Lord has done with you? No, He has no plan to finish His work He began in you. Jesus says when you turn back, you will come back stronger than ever before. No one else can and would do this. However, God will do this for you. He has done this in Peter’s life, and He will do this in your life as well.

Jesus reinstated Peter. Peter did, in fact, preach on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). He opened the gates of the church. Three thousand believed in Christ and got baptized. Many sick people got healed in his shadow as he walked on the streets of Jerusalem. (Acts 5:15). In fact, he wrote two wonderful epistles which became the scriptures, 1st, and 2nd Peter.

Yes, Beloved, the Lord has not done with your life. He wants to reinstate you if you think you failed God and others. His love, grace, mercy, and compassion will accomplish this for you.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I thank you for talking to me today. I believe you have not finished with me. I turn back to you Lord. Please reinstate me as I come back to you and confess my sins and wrongdoings to you now. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for all of my sins. I believe Him as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for your wonderful love, grace, mercy, and compassion. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”