Loving Forgiveness and Restoration

Jesus has such a heart of love and compassion for all people. Sometimes, we may doubt this, but when we do, we are forgetting that God is love. Therefore, the basic nature of Jesus is love. When we sin, He does not stop loving us. He does not give up on us. After all Jesus went to the Cross to shed His blood for our sin payment and to die in our place. Nothing says love and forgiveness more than the Cross of Christ. Once He forgives us, He also restores us fully to our relationship with Him. These qualities are seen clearly in Jesus' conversation with Peter by the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. Peter had denied Jesus 3 times, so Jesus asked him 3 times if he loved Him. (John 21:17) The fact that Jesus asked him 3 times, grieved Peter, but I believe he understood why Jesus was saying that to him. That is why Peter responded by saying that Jesus knew he loved Him, because He knew all things. It was then that Jesus told Peter to tend His sheep. He was restoring Peter to the leadership role that he had before his denials. Now, that is a picture of loving forgiveness and restoration.

I wonder what we need to be forgiven for right now? We could be hesitant to go to Jesus, thinking that He is upset with us and ready to punish us greatly. Please, do not see Jesus that way. Jesus loves all of His children, and He is ready to forgive any sin, if we come to Him in love, turning from that sin in confession and repentance. He is looking at our heart. He knows our love and sincerity. Jesus loves us so much He does not want any sin to come between us, so He is quick to forgive and send it all away. Please, do not listen to Satan lie to you about that. Go to Jesus now. He is ready and waiting, like He waited for Peter by the sea. Then, Jesus will not only forgive us in love. He will send us back out, in full fellowship with Him to resume our ministry. He knows how He created us and how He gifted us to serve Him, so He knows we will never be joyful and fulfilled in our life, until we are engaged in what we were saved to do. Please, look at Jesus in light of this account and never be hesitant to approach Him for forgiveness and restoration.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 1-3.