Restored in Love

Working in ministry, I hear this word weekly, if not daily. It’s a word filled with big dreams and a lot of hope, but do we understand the implications of what we ask for when we ask the Lord for restoration? Do we understand it’s the love of God that restores us? Do we understand that it’s God’s idea in the first place?

What does restoration mean for us, and how does it reveal the love of God in our lives?
 
John 21:15-19 gives a beautiful example of restoration between Jesus and Peter, but I want to give a little bit of context for why Peter needed restoration in the first place.

If you look in Luke 22:54-62, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times. When confronted by three separate people, Peter blatantly lied and said, “I don’t know this man.” Verses 61-62 give insight into what Peter felt after he denied Jesus.
 
“At that moment, the Lord, who was being led through the courtyard by his captors, turned around and gazed at Peter. All at once Peter remembered the words Jesus had prophesied over him, ‘Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ Peter burst into tears, ran off from the crowd, and wept bitterly.” - Luke 22:61-62 TPT

Imagine seeing Jesus immediately after you denied Him. I don’t think I would even have the courage to look at Him – I would feel so ashamed, so disappointed, so angry, maybe even bitter like Peter did. I would feel so distant from the Lord that I would probably lose hope for restoration. I mean, who denies their best friend right? What kind of lousy person does that?
 
Well. The Rock, that is Peter, denied his best friend, the literal Son of God, and the Lord still built the church through him. Why?

Because restoration is real, and it’s powerful.
 
“After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me?” Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of John, do you have great affection for me?” Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!” Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!
 Peter, listen, when you were younger you made your own choices and you went where you pleased. But one day when you are old, others will tie you up and escort you where you would not choose to go—and you will spread out your arms.” (Jesus said this to Peter as a prophecy of what kind of death he would die, for the glory of God.)

And then he said, “Peter, follow me!”' -  John 21:15-19 TPT
 
Pay attention to the questions asked in these verses: 

1. Simon, do you burn with love for me more than anything else? 
2. Simon, do you burn with love for me? 
3. Peter, do you have great affection for me?

Three questions distanced Peter from Jesus, and three questions brought him back to Jesus. What’s crazy is, Jesus knew Peter was going to bring glory to God, but He also knew that Peter was going to deny Him in the process. I think the Lord can use the same thing with which we denied Him in the first place to bring us back to Him again, to restore us to Him again.
Are there places you’ve denied the Lord? If so, that’s okay – He’s the God who restores us back to Him, and He will give us the opportunity to choose Him again.
 
Simon Peter denied the Son of God three times, and Jesus restored Him to bring glory to God and to build the church.

He desires friendship and healing for His people. Why did Jesus even come in the first place if it wasn’t to bring His children home? Restoration is alive and active. It’s full of love and joy and celebration. So, when God chooses to bring us home to Him, rejoice in the depths of His love and how He chooses restoration for His people!
 
“For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!” -  John 3:16-17 TPT

Author | Elizabeth Sprinkle