Grace, From Start to Finish

Meditations for the Season of Christmas 

December 27, 2022

Grace, From Start to Finish

“Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

John  21:16

Read: John 21:15-19

In our quietness yesterday, we became enchanted with Jesus. From our enchantment, the Holy Spirit leads us to become fully devoted followers of Jesus as we serve our Lord. As I contemplate my service unto Christ, I am drawn to this conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-19. There are nuances in the dialog, and clearly the three questions by Jesus relate to Peter’s three denials of Jesus. This conversation allowed Peter to confront his failures and to realize that his failures did not disqualify him as a disciple. (In a previous appearance by Jesus, John 20:21, Peter is included in Jesus’ commissioning of the disciples: “As the father sent me, so I am sending you.”)

In the conversation with Peter, Jesus revealed the foundation for all Christian service. Whether we are the preacher, the musician, the greeter, the usher, the teacher, the server in the food line, the bell ringer for the Salvation Army, whatever our service may be, the foundation for our service is our love for Jesus. Even though we may have failed Jesus countless times, Jesus wants our love for him to bring us back to him, and then he gives us a chance to express our love for him by serving others. Our expressions of love will be healing for our hurts and failures. These expressions are not ways to earn forgiveness – nothing can ever do that. Our relationship with Jesus is built on GRACE, from start to finish. Our expressions of love are offered in joy because we are forgiven; our service is not what we have to do, but what we get to do.

My Takeaway: Because we love Jesus, what do we get to do today as an expression of that love?

“I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love. Amen”

Jude 1: 1a-2

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.