How Can God Love Me?

I have the great honor of being friends with many brave men. I know men who have earned Silver Stars and Bronze Stars for Valor. I also know men that have earned Purple Hearts; some posthumously. All these men have a commonality; a single thread that binds the fiber of their fortitude. What they have, or had, is commitment. A commitment to their cause, a commitment to their profession, and above all - a commitment to one another. Their very lives often depend on it.

Mistakes and errors in judgement often hold very real, and very permanent, consequences. The difference of a single digit when calling in a fire mission could result in fratricide. Moving East instead of West may forever alter the life of  a sleeping child thousands of miles away. Believe me, these men know the cost of making a bad choice. Many are never able to forgive themselves and live with shame and guilt for the remainder of their days. Can you imagine the torment and the grief?

I know that this is an extreme example. Many will never find themselves in such dire circumstances. What is certain, however, is that we will all fail. We will all make bad choices that impact our lives and the lives of others. We will feel shame and guilt and know that we alone are responsible.

At times, we will question our worth. We will question our usefulness to the Kingdom of God. We often ask "How can God love me when I continue to fail? I keep asking for forgiveness for the same things, over and over. Why can't I get it right? I can't possibly be good enough for Him. I give up!"

I have a two word answer for this problem: Simon Peter.

I am no expert on Peter. Very simply, this is how I have learned to apply his shortcomings to my life.

Oh yes, despite being the Rock upon which Christ would build His Church, Peter often failed.

The first sermon that I heard at Rock Bridge was about Peter's failures. I have since read Beautiful Outlaw  by John Eldredge  and most of Traveling Light by Max Lucado. Both of these deal with issues surrounding Peter and how his experiences can help us all better understand Christ's infinate love and absolute forgiveness.

In my next post, I will do my best to illustrate how I apply Simon Peter to my own life and perhaps some of you will look to Peter and find Him as well.

As Max Lucado so eloquently puts it in his book Traveling Light  :

"Jesus tends to his sheep. And He will tend to you."

God Bless -

David