In Touch
TOPIC: Where We Grow
Our relationships reveal our weaknesses and are also instrumental in our healing.
After the Last Supper, Peter made a grand proclamation of his devotion to Jesus, saying, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35). Yet later that very evening, on three separate occasions, Peter claimed he didn’t know Jesus at all. The moment he realized his denial, “he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).
If handled in a healthy way, being confronted with our sin leads to spiritual growth. That’s one reason relationships are critical—they reveal rough areas in our character and present opportunities for God’s transforming grace. Relational intimacy forced Peter to confront his own weakness, and he grew more Christlike in the process. And so it is with each of us.
The good news is that relationships also foster healing. After His resurrection, Jesus asked three times if Peter loved Him, and three times Peter responded, “You know that I love You” (John 21:15-17). And with their fellowship restored, Jesus prepared Peter to have a major role in the growth of the church.
Think About It
• Take a moment to thank someone in your life who has challenged you in a way that led to transformation.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 41-45
