His Grace

In Lk. 22:31-32, Jesus said to Peter, “satan has asked, begged permission of Me, that he might violently shake and sift you like wheat, but I have interceded for you that your faith would not fail, and when you are converted (when you have returned to Me), you will strengthen your brethren.”

Jesus didn't pray that Peter wouldn't fail, He prayed that Peter's absolute dependence in Himself would not fail. Peter's first confession, the natural one, filled with foolish self-confidence, said to Jesus, "I WILL die for you”, (Jhn. 13:37). Peter said this right after Jesus was graphically teaching them all, that if He did not wash them of their foolish, prideful, self-confidence, as the result of their sins, that He could have NO PART with them (Jhn. 13:8).

What must the sound of that rooster have done to his foolish, prideful, self-confident confession? Mt. 26:75 says that "he wept bitterly." He was drained of his self- confidence, satan had sifted him trying to destroy him, BUT GOD was preparing him for a different sound. The backslidden fisherman (Jhn. 21:3) hears John say "it is the Master's voice, it is the Lord!" (Jhn. 21:7).

I don't know how many mornings that Jesus has stood on the shore, while I was out all night, out all night from the voice of His presence, in my own thoughts and emotions of defeat. And Jesus is there, waiting for me with a meal already prepared, and even asks me to bring to the meal what I had received of Him. And as I sup with Him, He answers the three denials and the sound of the rooster's, with His own voice, do you love me more than these?

Feed My sheep, with what I Am feeding you, (Jhn. 21:15-17), a depth of love that you will never reach the end of (Ephesians 3:19-21).