Saturday, May 27, 2017
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?"
DO YOU LOVE ME?
In the afterglow of that first Easter, as Jesus finished breakfast with His apostles by the shore of Galilee, He reinstated Peter to tend and feed His lambs and sheep.
He said, "Do you love ME?" Do you consider me your greatest treasure? "I am the bread of life"-- what will you feed my lambs if you do not consider me to be of value? Will you have them call upon their own inner strength, their mental toughness, in the day of trouble, that they may deliver themselves and glorify themselves?
No, it is recognizing Jesus as our greatest, our priceless Treasure that will help us stand if we ever find ourselves in the high priest's courtyard, our security threatened, and our confession challenged. And that is the love we want to bring to others, lambs or sheep: not just affection for Him who provides food for us, but a love which goes beyond that, a love which remembers how He laid down His life for us to bring us to God. Such a love will see Him as a treasure worth dying for. That is the love which Jesus seeks in His representatives, whether they are called servants or calling servants.
Do we love Him? Yes, but how we wish that love were stronger! How can it be increased? By being with Him on Galilee's shore for breakfast ... lunch ... dinner! By looking to Him always, listening to Him always, for then we will know Him better. If we know Him better, we will love Him more, follow Him always-- yes, feed His lambs and tend His sheep!
