Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible


A fitting sequel to this weekend's "Men's retreat" where we studied the person of Peter. Even as Peter rebuked Christ for revealing that he would deny Him three times then followed it up with that very denial, Christ poured out His grace and mercy on him. God, in spite of Peter's failures, went on to use Peter in an instrumental role when establishing the early church. Peter, no doubt, felt like complete failure as he denied Christ for the third time then immediately heard the rooster crow. At that particular point I'm sure that he felt that his usefulness in ministry was over.

In his commentary Spurgeon reminds us that God delights in His saints...and it's not because of our faithfulness or our righteousness. He tells us that we cannot even take delight in ourselves, that, "we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness."

If we groan at our own shortcomings how much more would God groan at our antics, that is, if he didn't see us without blemish. Instead of groaning He is, "rejoicing of thee with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."

Why, because even though we are, "poor fallen creatures, like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin, we have been saved, exalted, and glorified by His grace." And as with Peter, God has a plan for us.

"I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation"

Amen