The Gaze of God

"Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said,"Your name is Simon son of John-but you will be called Cephas (which means Peter)."

-John 1:42 NLT

I love Peter! He is probably known as much, if not more, for his failures than he is for his successes. I identify with Peter in that way. If I were to write a book about my life and I divided it in two sections (section one being my failures and section two being my successes), I have often thought section one would be thicker than section two.

Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Isn't that awesome? Andrew met Jesus and after that meeting his first thought was his brother. He wanted his brother to meet Jesus too. We meet Jesus and that's what happens, we want others to meet him too, especially those close to us.

Jesus......"looking intently at Simon".....that phrase got me to thinking about some things:

a. Jesus, being God, can look on any man and know his every thought.

b. Jesus, being God, can look on any man and see his life from beginning to end.

c. Jesus, being God, can look on any man and see the blackness or light in his heart and soul.

Looking at Peter, Jesus saw every impulsive moment, heard every awkward word, knew every act of cowardice and every failure. Jesus saw Peter return to the nets after his death. Jesus could hear Peter's words of denial before they were spoken, he could hear them before they even entered into Peter's mind to speak. Jesus saw Peter bitterly weeping over his lack of faith and his inability to make a stand when he said he would. Jesus saw all of that when he looked "intently at Simon"....yet, he called him to be his disciple anyway. His love for Peter was immediate and eternal. His love was bigger than all of Peter's failures; past, present, and future. Jesus also saw the mighty way Peter would rise up and lead the early church to solid ministry after Jesus' return to glory.

When Jesus looked at my life, He saw beginning to end. He saw all my failures, He saw my battle with alcohol, He saw my failed relationships, He saw my financial struggles, He saw my hopelessness and my guilt.......yet, He called me to be His disciple anyway. His love for me was immediate and eternal. He also saw me coming back home to Him and being in a place where He could use me again. For all that He has seen in me, He has never let go...He has always believed....and He continues on with me in my walk with Him.

Perhaps today you are in that spot where you have just about given up. Your hurts, hang-ups, and habits have a choke hold around your neck and you see no way out. Stand firm and grasp tightly to the hand of Jesus, your deliverance is near. Don't let go and don't give up. Your breakthrough is just around the corner. He sees your life from start to finish...He has it under control....lay it all before Him and let Him do His work in you. The possibilities are limitless.