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HE INVITES YOU BACK

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5

When shepherds find new pasture, one of the first things they must deal with is the adder, a small brown snake that can pop out of its hole, bite the sheep and kill them. And that’s what our Shepherd has done for us. He’s dealt with Satan, the old serpent, and prepared for us ‘a table in the presence of our enemies’. He’s done for us what He did for Peter, invited us to come and fellowship with Him in spite of our failures. See the guy hiding in the shadows? That’s Peter. Soon he’ll preach to multitudes, but tonight he’s weeping. What’s worse - that he denied Jesus, or that he swore he never would. One denial was bad - but three? And we’re just like him, aren’t we? Listen to us: ‘I’ve given up all of that . No more messing around with the wrong people, pastimes, or pleasures. I’ve learned my lesson. Others might, but not me!’ Oh, the level of our boasting and oh the heartache when we fall. But there’s good news: God permits U-turns! Three days later when Jesus rose from the dead, the angel said, ‘Go, tell His disciples and Peter. He is going ahead of you into Galilee’’ (See Mark 16:7). ‘And Peter’. The biggest failure was the only one singled out by name. When Peter reached the shore that morning, beaten and weary, the fire was burning, the meal prepared and Jesus was saying, ‘Come and dine’ (John 21:12). Have you failed badly? Jesus invites you to come, be fed and restored to fellowship with Him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the dinner invitation even though I do not deserve to be at the same table with you. Amen