Joel M Bradshaw

17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.–John 21

For most of my adult life I have journeyed with depression and dealt with the shame. I have past seasons of my life riddled with addiction and hypocrisy. For part of my life I seemed like a broken mess. Peter’s story connects with me greatly. Peter denied Jesus publicly three times and Jesus restored Peter publicly three times. Both moments were over a charcoal grill.

Jesus transformed Peter’s broken mess of a story and used it for God’s glory. That literally is the best feeling a former hypocrite can have. And Jesus defined ministry with verbs not nouns. Jesus didn’t picture Peter with nouns like ‘greatness’ or ‘success’. He commanded with a verb like ‘feed’. He wasn’t to accomplish great things, he was simply to be obedient and obey as a pastor. And this is Peter. THE Peter. The one must people have on their minds when they think of Heaven and stories about pearly gates.

Jesus was clear. Peter was to feed. He was to feed not his own lambs, but Jesus’ lambs. Jesus not only restored Peter, but gave him a clear purpose with defined boundaries. Every pastor needs this perspective and clarity.

One of the greatest ministry joys I have is when God uses my past with addiction to challenge young men in addiction. Or when I use what I have learned as a depressed man to encourage others in depression. God uses our stories for His glory. Peter was restored and then was equipped by Jesus to lead. His failures only highlighted Jesus’ restoration. How now do you see your story?–JMB