Because YOU say so...

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Luke 5:8,10

I've been learning that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus according to Romans 8:1. This story made it so real to me this week.  Peter sinned.  I have sinned.  But Jesus did not say, "Yes Peter, you are right.  You have sinned.  You are a sinner."  He has never said that to me either.  He could have listed every sin Peter ever had and would commit, but he didn't.  Sometimes I feel that my sin is being brought to my memory and it's hard to pray and I can't concentrate when I read God's word and my thoughts are clouded with why I have no right to draw near to him.

Lies.

Did Jesus go away from Peter?  How beautiful that Jesus remained with him and spent time teaching him and loving him through his own final night.  There could have been so much said between Peter's sentence and that of Jesus.  But it was a simple reply.  "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."  No condemnation.  No reminders.  No sarcasm.  A simple statement that moved Peter forward.

It's easy to get stuck.  And it's a battle to be unstuck.  I have been reminded weekly that I need to dress myself every day in God's armor.  The enemy will remind me of what I've done and what I haven't, who I've been and who I'm not.  He'll try to confuse me, deceive me, and fill my mind with lies.  Peter could have said, "No Jesus, I can't follow you.  I can't catch men.  I'm just a fisherman.  I'm a sinner!  I can't be near you!  No one will listen to me anyway." Those thoughts have gone through my mind.  But a morsel of truth pokes through, and then another, and then another.  I'm forgiven.  I'm accepted.  I'm loved.  I'm a daughter of the King.  I am not condemned in Christ Jesus!  And I'm fighting the battle and I'm wearing the belt of truth and carrying the shield of faith and through the blood and sweat and tears there is victory.

Before this moment, Peter had spent a long night fishing and catching nothing.  And Jesus told him to put out into deep water and let down the nets.  And Peter said, "because you say so, I will let down the nets."

Lord, because you say so, I am free.  Because you say so, I am a dwelling in which you live.  Because you say so, my prayers are powerful and effective.  Because you say so, I am not condemned.  Because you say so...