ESOCS Devotional 19 August 2026 – Reverse Your Wrong Steps
MEMORY VERSE: John 21:15 “When they had finished eating Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? (NIV).
TEXT: John 21:15-19
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
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In our text today we see Jesus dine with Peter and the rest of the apostles after his resurrection. Peter had denied Jesus before he was crucified. (John 18:16-18, 25-27). One could think that Peter will lose his place in Christ by this denial. In today’s world, no political leader would take back someone to confidence who denied him in such a critical time. But Jesus took the step to restore Peter. Three times Peter denied Jesus, three times Jesus led him in question to restate his love for him. In verses 15-17 we read “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? Yes Lord you know that I love you.
Our love for Christ is required to be total and above the love for our trade, friends and worldly pleasure. We can enter into the love of Christ when we as Peter do confess Christ with our mouth and believer him with our heart. (Romans 10:9,10). Confession is made unto salvation.
The next is that we will have to take up the role the Lord apportions to us by his Spirit when we are restored. For Peter, he is to “Feed the Lord’s lambs; take care of the Lord’s sheep.”. He became the head of the apostles and we can testify from the scriptures that Peter accomplished his role. What can you do by the power you have received? It is expected that we accomplish it.
The experience of those who work to the end is not all enjoyable. Peter and the apostles all faced persecutions. But the Lord manifested his Spirit and power in them and through them. Yet at last Jewish tradition indicate that Peter was crucified upside down. He was foretold by the Lord in verse 18 and he faced it and accomplished it.
Let us therefore repent of our sins, retrace our steps, reverse our wrong actions, speak out in confession and take up our place and mantle in Christ and serve the Lord’s purpose to the end.
Question
Do you truly love the Lord? Are you performing your role?
Prayer
Father, may I find your guidance in all that I do in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading:
Ezekiel 44:1-9, Deut. 13:1-5, Heb. 9:1-14.
ESOCS Devotional 19 August 2026
