How can I know if I truly love God, or if I only give
verbal assent to loving God? Jesus quoted Isaiah saying it applied to the Jews
of His day... "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are
far from Me."
Have we ever answered the question Jesus asked Peter? It was directed to Peter that morning two thousand years ago. The question was pointed, focused, and simple: "Peter do you love Me?" Jesus’ final lesson focused on just one area of Peter's life—LOVE.
"DO YOU LOVE ME?" Jesus is asking all of us the same question each day. He watches us toiling through life and reaches down and whispers in our ears, "Do you love Me?"
In John 14:21, Jesus says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Jesus is saying that, if we keep His words (commands), we do love Him and we will have full access to all that God wants for our lives.
Have we ever answered the question Jesus asked Peter? It was directed to Peter that morning two thousand years ago. The question was pointed, focused, and simple: "Peter do you love Me?" Jesus’ final lesson focused on just one area of Peter's life—LOVE.
"DO YOU LOVE ME?" Jesus is asking all of us the same question each day. He watches us toiling through life and reaches down and whispers in our ears, "Do you love Me?"
In John 14:21, Jesus says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Jesus is saying that, if we keep His words (commands), we do love Him and we will have full access to all that God wants for our lives.
Peter learned this lesson well. Despite his constant stumbling and failing,
he was open to the love of Jesus in a way which ended in death for his
Master. He assumed the role Jesus had
given him, dutifully leading the apostles and the infant church after Jesus’
Ascension to the Father. Peter knew the
weakness of his own flesh, a weakness which could not evade the Master. In the Garden, Jesus had said, “The spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14, 38b)
All of Jesus’ corrections were a sign of Jesus’ love for Peter. “Whom the Lord loves, He chastises.” (Hebrews
12, 6)
Finally, came the test! Luke 22, 31-34 says, “Simon, Simon! Remember
that Satan has asked for you, to sift you all like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may
never fail. You in turn must strengthen your
brothers.” “Lord,” he said to Him, “at
Your side I am prepared to face imprisonment and death itself.” Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the cock
will not crow today until you have three times denied Me.”
Peter is a type
of many of us who, in spite of all Jesus has done for us, in spite of the fact
that we love Him, are born-again and are seeking to serve Him, we fail Him
again and again. Many times we think that we are stronger than we are, but we
stumble and fall or become discouraged. God allowed Simon Peter to fall so we
would be encouraged. Indwelt by the Holy
Spirit, we can get up again and live a victorious life.
Let us talk about love. Jesus said, “I give you a new
commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. Such as My love has been for
you, so must your love be for each other.
This is how all will know you for My disciples, your love for one
another.” (John 13, 34-35) Unlike
emotional, physical, or friendship love, God's love (God is Love!)is the love
of self-sacrificing service. It's the love granted to someone who needs to be
loved, not necessarily to someone who is attractive or lovable. That is the
love the Father first showed toward us when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for
us, to be His Lamb of God! That is the
love Jesus demonstrated when He died obediently for us! Scripture says, “While we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.” And all because of
LOVE!
What if the Lord should meet you today and ask,
"Do you love Me?" Imagine ... He has found
you quiet and alone. He is standing before you. Think of Him reaching out to
touch you with that gentle touch. Then -- oh, so directly -- He asks, "Do
you love Me?"
That question is being addressed to you and me today. Let it come to us as from Jesus. For these moments let the words come to us from Jesus. Jesus asks us, "Do you love Me?"
That question is being addressed to you and me today. Let it come to us as from Jesus. For these moments let the words come to us from Jesus. Jesus asks us, "Do you love Me?"
Do we love God? Do we love God as much as we did when
we first got saved?
Have we ever asked ourselves that question? Have we ever wondered in our own mind, "Do I really love God?"
Whenever I pause from my fast-paced life long enough to ponder that question, it almost always stimulates more questions before any answers, questions like: What does it mean to love God? How can I know if I truly love God, or if I only give verbal assent to loving God? Jesus quoted Isaiah saying it applied to the Jews of His day... "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." (Matt. 15:8). Do I really love God or am I just giving Him lip-service? And if I do love God, do I love Him fully? Jesus made it clear for us when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22, 37-38)
Going back to Peter: Peter was a professional. He had been called to be an apostle. He announced that he would forsake all to follow Jesus. He was known as the chief of the apostles. Yet, to this first among the Christian professionals, Jesus asked, not once, not twice, but three times, "Do you love Me?" The final lesson for Peter which came from his darkest night and lasted for the rest of his life was the fact and truth of Jesus’ promise: a new beginning and complete forgiveness. The same for us! Alleluia!
Have we ever asked ourselves that question? Have we ever wondered in our own mind, "Do I really love God?"
Whenever I pause from my fast-paced life long enough to ponder that question, it almost always stimulates more questions before any answers, questions like: What does it mean to love God? How can I know if I truly love God, or if I only give verbal assent to loving God? Jesus quoted Isaiah saying it applied to the Jews of His day... "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." (Matt. 15:8). Do I really love God or am I just giving Him lip-service? And if I do love God, do I love Him fully? Jesus made it clear for us when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22, 37-38)
Going back to Peter: Peter was a professional. He had been called to be an apostle. He announced that he would forsake all to follow Jesus. He was known as the chief of the apostles. Yet, to this first among the Christian professionals, Jesus asked, not once, not twice, but three times, "Do you love Me?" The final lesson for Peter which came from his darkest night and lasted for the rest of his life was the fact and truth of Jesus’ promise: a new beginning and complete forgiveness. The same for us! Alleluia!
How can I know if I truly love God, or if I only give verbal assent to loving God? Jesus quoted Isaiah saying it applied to the Jews of His day... "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me."
