Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Peter had just seen Jesus do a miracle to bless him and the others. As far as he knew Jesus had tossed him to the curb after Peter had denies him. He had no idea that later he would be publicly restored not only as a disciple, but a leader that would be used as Jesus said when his name was changed from Simon to Peter and even shortly before he did what Jesus knew Peter would do.
Is this not how we feel when we bungle our walk and not only fumble the ball, but completely deflate it? We tell the Lord to depart from us at the time we desperately need and want Him. We think He cannot forgive whatever i was we did. We fell from grace and we are done.
Peter was wrong and so are we when we think like that. His mercies are new every morning. When our sins are as scarlet, He calls us to come to Him and reason together so that he can make us white as snow.
Hard to believe? Yes, our grief and our enemy will speak against that kind of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. There is nothing like it in the human realm. Yet, it was not a fallen human that said it. It was the God who created us and redeemed us. Our works may fail and or faith fluctuate and be smaller than a mustard seed, BUT thanks be to Him that He never changes and He said to come boldly unto the throne in time of need to find mercy! He knows our frame that it is but dust and that without him we can do nothing.
Sometimes we need to fall as hard as Peter to quit depending on our good works, our strength, and our understanding. Paul said that they had the sentence of death in themselves so they could not trust in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. Your failure making you feel dead inside and like your relationship with God is dead? Good! Maybe you are now in the position to be willing to receive His strength, wisdom, mercy, grace, forgiveness and to be placed in the ministry He called you to do in His power and not your flesh.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Peter and Moses are perfect examples of this. After both were humbled, they were used in the way they were called to do. When they trusted in their flesh they failed. When they trusted in God and His power they parted seas and won thousand of souls in a day.
This may be your day to be positioned. Don't say. "Lord, depart from me." Say, "Lord Thy will be done in my life! Use me as you called me in Your power by your mercy and grace!" There are still seas to be parted to bring freedom and they are souls to be saved. You were saved, called and gifted. Your sin created a detour and delay, but at the end of the day God has not changed His mind about you or your mission. Believe and receive! Maranatha!
