“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you” (Mark 16:7).

“Pastor, can we come to your office immediately?” Bennie asked as he choked out the words. “We have tried to get through this on our own. I have forgiven Claire, but she just can’t seem to forgive herself. We’ll explain when we get there, if you have time,” Bennie said with desperation in his voice. The pastor wisely cleared his schedule and saw them as soon as they could arrive at his office. The dear pastor tried not to look shocked as the story unfolded before him. Claire had been involved in an adulterous affair for several months. Under heavy conviction she broke off the affair, confessed it to her husband and pled for forgiveness. Then he continued, “Though I was brokenhearted, Pastor, I knew that my actions at home contributed to the problem. I did forgive her. I mean I really did forgive her. But she won’t forgive herself.” Claire never looked up. She simply sat and sobbed. Nothing that the pastor said that day seemed to help. It was several months later as Claire was reading from Mark 16 that it hit her. Peter had horribly failed the Lord and did not keep his promise to Him. She remembered how Peter had promised that he would never be offended because of Christ and that he was ready to die for the Lord. But a very short time later Peter denied the Lord. Now in the reading she understood that the Lord Jesus rose from the grave and had a special message to be delivered to His disciples, and especially to Peter. The Lord Jesus had forgiven Peter. Suddenly she saw herself as if she were Peter. He was forgiven. So was she! Now she understood the power of forgiveness. As the Lord forgave Peter, she discovered the Lord’s grace to forgive herself. How about you, friend?

For today: I am so glad for the Lord’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. How about you?