I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU

 

JUNE 7, 2023

 

LUKE 22:31-34

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Ephesians 2:4-10

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


Jesus was never shocked by sin, yet we often are. We tend to point fingers, cast judgment, and get angry, but Jesus simply showed up, listened well, and offered truth and grace.

As Jesus neared the end of His earthly life, He knew that Peter would deny Him three different times. Now as we read above, Peter refused to believe this, saying that he would never deny Jesus. “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus, knowing full well that betrayal was coming, gives this beautiful instruction to Peter:

“… I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 NLT

Jesus wasn’t surprised by Peter’s actions nor offended at the pain they’d cause Him. Instead, He called him to greatness after his repentance.

We can choose to give others that same gift. When someone hurts us or wrongs us, it’s easy to be offended and head down a trail of payback. But how much better would it be to extend grace instead?

Some time ago I read the article How Can We Let Go of Anger and Offense? The Author said, “many of us are carrying offenses like accessories, not even realizing that they’re weighing us down. So how do we let go of our anger, our offense, or our frustration in a healthy way?

Lower your expectations of others.

Raise your gratitude for God’s grace.”

We have options. We can keep holding onto offenses that keep us bitter and keep others hostage. Or we can choose to lay them down, remember grace, and find freedom.


LET US PRAY

God, thank You for giving us undeserved grace. Help me remember and appreciate Your grace so that I can freely give it to others. I lay down the offenses I’ve been carrying, and I ask for healing instead. In Jesus’ name, amen.