Jesus still took him!!

Are you struggling with issues in your life? Do you feel that the Lord wants  to use you in some way however you have struggles? Or are you just a Christian, you may not particularly feel any specific call however you just want to please  the Lord at all times. The good news is the  Lord has great plans for us  all. He has designed us all for a purpose. Jeremiah 29: 11  For  I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace,  and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 Now just imagine Peter. The Lord told Peter that he would deny him three times. Peter was so adamant that it would not happen. So many factors would have  contributed to that response.

 Mark 14: 27 – 33

  27 And Jesus saith unto  them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I  will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

 28 But after that I am risen, I will go  before you into Galilee.

 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all  shall be offended, yet will not I.

 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say  unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou
shalt deny me thrice.

 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I  should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they  all.

 32 And they came to a place which was  named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall
pray.

 33 And he taketh  with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be
very heavy;


Now lets look at the above account. The Lord knows better than we do.  If you knew beyond a shadow of doubt that somebody was going to deny you three  times, what would you do? If you were going to pray, especially a significant  prayer, would you take such a person along with you? But watch the mercy and  goodness of our Lord. Jesus still took Peter.

 32 And they came to a place which was  named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall  pray.

 33 And he taketh  with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to very  heavy.

  The Lord told  his other disciples to sit down, while He took Peter, James and John with Him.  Just note that, the final most important prayer He prayed during His earthly  ministry, Jesus knowing very well that Peter would deny him, still took him  along. What an amazing Lord! The Lord sees our hearts beyond our weaknesses.

 The Lord knows our weaknesses but still delights to use us. The Lord knows  that we are all ‘work in progress’ so stop being too hard on yourself.  The Lord kept Peter as one of the three, despite all. And see what happened?  Peter ended writing part of the bible and  was also used mightily  as  we can see in the book of Acts (Acts 15:5). This is also a lesson for leaders  that have flock and people that they mentor.

 The bible says in the book of  Psalms 147: 5:  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his  understanding is infinite.

  The Lord understands our weaknesses and short comings. Is this a  licence not to work on ourselves? No. The point about this article is that we  are all work in progress. The Lord has called you, has plans for you, and still  desires to use you. When we fail, its then we must run to the throne of grace  for mercy. The Lord is not surprised when we fail for He is not caught unawares.  He truly delights in us. Even as the Lord still took Peter, the Lord is still  calling you.  Stop being hard on yourself, respond to His love, keep close  to the Lord.  As the days go by as you grow up in Him, more of Christ will  be formed in you. What you fell for today, will be history and no longer a  temptation tomorrow. Let the Lord have His way.


Bisi Oladipupo