DISQUALIFYING THE DISQUALIFIER

“…for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him”  — I John 3:20-22 ESV.

One of the biggest challenges we face is the temptation to disqualify ourselves, to be beaten up by feeling “unforgiven” and unworthy of God’s blessing and calling. This is something Peter clearly went through after he had denied Jesus three times. Even after knowing Jesus was resurrected, the weight of all that happened must have felt too heavy for him. Peter tells the other disciples, “I am going fishing” (John 21:3). I take that as a way of saying, “I’ve messed up on this Jesus discipleship thing and I’m going back to what I know how to do, be an everyday fisherman.” I think Peter was deciding to disqualify himself from God’s plan to be a disciple and one, who would establish His church.

I can totally relate to Peter’s feelings. Many times, I’ve been plagued with self-doubt, self-criticism, self-disgust and disappointment that has driven me to fear going forward as a leader or as Christ’s representative. Maybe you have too. In such scenarios, we often fail to see that it isn’t Jesus who is tired of us, giving up on us, or gazing with an exasperating look of disappointment. What we are feeling comes from “the accuser of the brethren.” Satan waits for opportunities of failure to drive us towards condemnation and self-disqualification.

John 21 details Jesus’ response. After fishing all night with no success, He invites Peter and the others to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Jesus takes them back to their first fishing encounter together (Luke 5) and demonstrates His grace and eagerness to bless Peter and be his provider was the same that day as it had been when they first met. In fact, the forgiveness Peter needed at that moment was even more available because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Bible says the issue of our guilt was already settled on the cross. It isn’t up for debate; it simply needs to be claimed.

God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

— Colossians 2:13b-15 ESV.

The feeling of unforgiveness and shame is a lie Satan has no right to put on us or hold over us. Jesus disqualified the disqualifier on the cross. The one who wants to cancel us has been canceled. Like Peter, Jesus is offering us the invitation to be fully restored to a place of favor and authority. Just like He came for Peter, like He always comes for lost sheep, He comes after us. He tells us our greatest days are still ahead and all that He has planned for us is still waiting to be claimed.

When we claim His grace, His Holy Spirit is able to lift and free our hearts from our self-condemnation.

Let’s quit disqualifying ourselves and start disqualifying the disqualifier in Jesus’ name!