THE HEART OF GRACE

John 18:12-27
12 The detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound Him 13 and brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. . . . 15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 "You are not one of His disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." . . . 25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." 26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with Him in the olive grove?" 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

I wandered around the crowded restaurant looking for an empty table to put down the plate I had filled from the breakfast buffet. Finally, I spotted a couple sitting alone. I approached and asked if they would share their table. Soon my husband Tom arrived and we introduced ourselves to the couple and began to chat. As we completed our meal and the guys continued to talk, Grace leaned over to me and said softly, "Do you love Jesus?"

I responded with my biggest smile, "Yes, I do love Jesus."

Now, we both smiled. We had made a connection and started talking easily about our mutual faith. We ended up spending a couple of hours together that morning as Grace told us how she had converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1987, how her husband had been saved, and how God had restored their rocky marriage.

As I thought about our conversation later, I wondered if it had taken any courage for her to ask me that question in that way. After all, she could have asked a "safer" question: "Do you go to church?" or "Do you believe in God?" But Grace got right to the point. "Do you love Jesus?" It hadn't taken any courage for me to respond to Grace's question. After all, I knew I was in friendly territory.

In John 18, we read that after Jesus was arrested and was being treated brutally, His disciple and good friend Peter claimed that he didn't even know Him! Not just once, but three times. How often have believers in Jesus thought, I would never have done that! But for those of us who do not live in societies where Christians are persecuted, little is to be feared by stating that we love Jesus.

For us, courage lies more in our willingness to ask the question. Too many times, we hold back in apprehension--afraid of what? Offending? Embarrassing ourselves or the other person? Or maybe not wanting to abruptly end a pleasant conversation?

Not Grace though. Her courageous question reflected what flowed from her heart. The love and grace of Jesus. --Cindy Kasper

DESTINATION POINTS

* What can I do to prepare for a conversation with someone about Jesus?
* Am I ready at all times to tell others that I love Him?

LINKS
:How Can I Break The Silence?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0706

What's With My Faith?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2003/005/21.16.html

bottom line: Do you love Jesus?

soul journey