“The Assignment You Do Not Deserve”
While walking across a field I stumbled upon an ant hill. Fire ants we call them, because like fire they spread all over you in a few moments and their bite stings, leaving painful bite marks. My stumbling, reminded me of a truth I had learned before,”watch where you walk”. I have often learned and relearned that message throughout my many years. I have hit my head on low hanging tree limbs and I have tripped over cracks on the side walk. While walking on a sidewalk in Freetown an observant pedestrian saved me from falling into a hole where a piece of the walk was missing.
While reading my Bible this week I stumbled onto a truth I had often walked past. I was reading from Luke 22 where Jesus, while celebrating his final meal with his disciples, and he speaks a word of warning and encouragement to Peter. The warning I have always known, but it was the word of encouragement I stumbled onto. I must say I was both surprised and jubilant. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers”.
Peter was the one who boasted that, “even if the rest of the disciples deny you, I will never disown you! I will die for you!”. It was this Peter, who would vehemently deny any knowledge of, or relationship with Jesus before the night passed. Peter’s faith got very shakey. His faith wobbled, temporarily lost it’s fiber. His faith weakened, and he took a terrible fall, but we know it came alive again, even stronger than before. First, because Jesus’ prayers are effective. Secondly, because Jesus said, “when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”. There it is you will turn back. You will recover. You will get up. When you do I have an assignment for you, serve the others. Strengthen those who get weak. There are others, just like you, who need strength.
Peter, you will stumble, make a terrible decision, you will need to turn back or repent, and when you do I have a job for you. Fundamentally, your assignment is identical to my assignment from my Father. Bring people to repentance. Show them the forgiveness I have shown you.
Think of it, Peter, who in all of his arrogance, committed the most heinous sin, to deny and reject Christ, he who had been so weak, was sent to give strength to the others. The weak one is to make others strong. As a matter of fact, surprisingly, it was to Peter Jesus spoke, “I give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven”. It was to the repentant and restored Peter Jesus said, “take care of my sheep, feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. WOW!
The truth I stumbled onto was to realize that my sin, no matter how great or despicable, from which I repent, and for which I can be forgiven through Christ, does not disqualify me from serving, but mysteriously somehow equips me to better serve. It is now required of me to serve. She or he who has been helped to stand is in a better position to help another stand.
The words to Peter, “when you have returned, strengthen your brothers”, have alarmed me. Peter, they need you. Your repentance, your turning back, your dealing with your faults, your wrongs, and sins necessitates you serving others. The one helped, now, must help.
This repentance that leads to restoration and humble serving is the joy every Christian received in grace. This too, is the mystery of grace. Those who have tasted from the well of forgiveness cannot help but lead others to the same well. Yes, even those who once hurt you, deserted you, and even cursed you. We will even drop to our knees and scoop up the water for you, that your thirst too will be quenched. And then, together, we will encourage other stumblers to find the truth that sets us free. Thanks for listening.