Session 2

Nothing you do will stop Jesus loving you

From Finding Freedom from Sin and Shame: A 7-Day Devotional

Have you ever made a poor decision that caused so much embarrassment you never wanted to show your face in public again? Sin can make us feel the same way about approaching Jesus. Often a bad choice or a weak moment causes such shame that we think we can’t talk to Jesus anymore — as if we could cause Jesus to stop loving us.

In John 21, Peter struggles with these same emotions. Peter disowned Jesus three times the night before He was crucified and the last time was to Jesus’s face. Peter was so heartbroken about what he had done that he withdrew in self-disgust and disappointment. Not sure what to do or where to go, Peter and the disciples returned to what they did before they met Jesus. They went fishing.

Because of Peter's emotions, Jesus' showing up at the shore of the Sea of Galilee was so much sweeter. Showing up on the lake was miraculous. It was also a powerful demonstration that nothing the disciples did could separate them from Jesus’s love. 

In Romans 8:38-39, the apostle Paul describes Jesus’ love this way: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As Jesus and Peter talked on the beach, Jesus reminded Peter that he was saved and loved — and nothing would ever change that or take it away. In this defining moment, Peter committed his life to following Jesus, and Peter’s identity changed once and for all.

Reflect:

• Are you holding on to shame from past sin? Confess it today, and ask Jesus to empower you as you take steps to change.
• Peter left his fishing business behind to become the man Jesus called him to be. How would your life look if you loved Jesus more than anyone or anything?