Wandering Heart: "Here’s my Heart"
Here's my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
-Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! There is something about Easter morning worship that is like no other and this Easter celebration did not disappoint! It was truly a beautiful Easter celebration we had on Sunday. It was such a joy to see new friends, visiting family, and old friends as we gathered for worship. The gift of music was amazing as our Brass+ played, our handbells chimed, our choir sang, and we all lifted our voices in praise!
Throughout Lent we have been on a journey of faith with Peter. We have experienced his calling, his impulsiveness to jump out of the boat and his doubt as he began to sink. We have witnessed his moment of clarity as he declared Jesus the Messiah followed shortly by his rebuke as Jesus told him to “get behind me Satan.” Then we felt his pride as he promised not to leave Jesus side and his utter shame as he denied Jesus three times.
Peter has a very complicated faith journey, a rollercoaster of belief and disbelief, of understanding and completely missing the mark, of extreme highs and radical lows. But through it all, Jesus is there encouraging him in his faith journey. We see that in this Sunday’s final sermon in this series. As the resurrected Jesus encounters his disciples on the beach after a long night of fishing. Jesus pulls Peter aside and asks him three separate times, “Peter, do you love me?”
Here’s my Heart!
It is Peter’s honesty and emotion that draws me deeper into this story. His great shame and guilt for the moment of weakness…his words of denial only hours after he pledges his complete devotion. And there on the beach Jesus calls him out. I think about Peter’s heartbreak and regret…I think we have all been there!
Here’s my Heart!
Peter aguishly replies, “Lord, you know I love you!” In that moment Jesus brings Peter’s shame to the forefront and transforms it into his greatest moment. Feed my sheep! Tend my lambs! In a way I believe Jesus is telling Peter…remember who you are and what I have called you to become. Tend my sheep, Peter…you are their shepherd now. And friends, he does the same for us. Here’s my Heart!
Easter Blessings,
Pastor Jenni
Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.
-Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing