He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you."  Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."   John 21:16 (Msg)

I’m so very thankful that God uses broken things.  He uses broken pastors, broken leaders, broken people. 

Even after Peter had totally blown it and abandoned Jesus in His dark hour, Jesus came and restored him.  Simply asking him, “Do you love me?”

Jesus decided to use Peter.  And, thankfully, Jesus didn’t just bring him along hidden in the crowd but Jesus kept him front and center.  Jesus did that to say once and for all that being a follower of Christ isn’t about being perfect or having a impeccable pedigree.  It’s about allowing the Master to do His great work in and through our brokenness.

The truth is that to be truly used of God, you must be broken.  We must be broken of pride and arrogance.  We must be broken of all hubris and self-sufficiency.  Brokenness isn’t a hindrance to walking with God.  It’s a prerequisite.

However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.  2 Cor. 4:7 (Amp)