Jesus meets us where we are. This is a theme throughout the Scriptures and our lives. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, the Lord did not stay distant but came to them in the garden. (Ref. Genesis 3:9). Gideon was a great leader of the Israelites but did not start that way. Judges 6:11 Gideon, son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” [1]
In the parable of the prodigal son, the father represents the Lord, who is looking for his son as he returns. Luke 15:20 “So the prodigal son returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.[2] When we fall into life’s difficulties and cry out to the Lord, we realize He has stepped into our dirty mess to meet us where we are.
Jesus Meets Peter Where He Is
Jesus came to Peter and forgave him for denying Him three times. The denial had humbled Peter. As people, we sometimes think we are farther along in our faith until we fail during a time of testing. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter responded that he loves with a brotherly love.
I believe Peter wanted to love Jesus with sacrificial love, but he was honest with himself. Peter could only admit to a brotherly love. As the conversation continued, Jesus told Peter that one day he would sacrificially love Him.
John 21:18 “I tell you the truth when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” [3]
Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
No matter your situation or the mess you created, the Lord hears your cries. David expresses how the Lord meets us where we are. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [4]
When we humble ourselves and come to the Lord in confession and repentance, He embraces us, loves us, and restores us. Our Lord is the perfect loving father that always meets us where we are. He does all this because He loves us and has a plan for lives beyond what we think we can do.
To learn how Jesus meets us where we are, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/follow-restoration
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.