He denied that he knew the most important figure in his life...three specific times. And, when the rooster crowed during the third denial (just as Christ predicted), he saw HIS face looking back at him and went outside, weeping bitterly. Needless to say, after the resurrection of Christ, Simon Peter, without a chance to reconcile, was surprised to see Him on the sea shore with breakfast cooked. These disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus showed up early in the morning and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They ended up catching so many fish, large fish, that they had difficulty hauling it in. The gospel of John, chapter 21, records the story. Without mentioning a word about the betrayal, Christ engages Peter once again in the mission that he was called into earlier...over breakfast! The temptation is to think, sure, but doesn't he need to get some counseling or maybe have some time off to think about his failure, you know, just so he'll never do it again?!? Maybe... But that's not what Christ did here. And, without debating any system out there, the way we deal with others' mistakes, sins, shortcomings, etc., is in direct reflection to our measure of Christlikeness. (Just sayin'.) Rehabilitation, as we like to call it, begins by relationship immersed in grace! Counseling is needed; analysis and assessments are beneficial; renumerating expectations are necessary. Here's a suggestion, however: Let's start with BREAKFAST - for no other reason but to communicate acceptance, a meal that lowers defenses and accusations. Hey, for the other person, it could be a BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, because grace makes champions out of all of us!
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Breakfast of Champions
He denied that he knew the most important figure in his life...three specific times. And, when the rooster crowed during the third denial (just as Christ predicted), he saw HIS face looking back at him and went outside, weeping bitterly. Needless to say, after the resurrection of Christ, Simon Peter, without a chance to reconcile, was surprised to see Him on the sea shore with breakfast cooked. These disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus showed up early in the morning and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They ended up catching so many fish, large fish, that they had difficulty hauling it in. The gospel of John, chapter 21, records the story. Without mentioning a word about the betrayal, Christ engages Peter once again in the mission that he was called into earlier...over breakfast! The temptation is to think, sure, but doesn't he need to get some counseling or maybe have some time off to think about his failure, you know, just so he'll never do it again?!? Maybe... But that's not what Christ did here. And, without debating any system out there, the way we deal with others' mistakes, sins, shortcomings, etc., is in direct reflection to our measure of Christlikeness. (Just sayin'.) Rehabilitation, as we like to call it, begins by relationship immersed in grace! Counseling is needed; analysis and assessments are beneficial; renumerating expectations are necessary. Here's a suggestion, however: Let's start with BREAKFAST - for no other reason but to communicate acceptance, a meal that lowers defenses and accusations. Hey, for the other person, it could be a BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, because grace makes champions out of all of us!
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