Love me? In His Word 2-9-15

“Do you love Me?”

This is a question that most people ask someone at least once in their lives; whether to themselves or out loud and it is the same question that Jesus asked Peter. Or is it?
Peter’s answer came basic, then deeper and then sincerely as deeply as he could answer. “You know I do!”
Now that is where the movies and the story books end; ‘I love you!’ and they lived happily ever after.
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.”
 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[b] 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. 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.” John 21:15-18
Love is not a thing to enter into lightly, Jesus shows us in this passage that loving and being loved by Jesus requires something of us; contrary to popular belief; God wants something from us! People today seem to have gotten the idea that God is there to give them things, give them food, money, favor, health, happiness, etc.  I believe that because He loves us we do receive these things at times because He loves us He answers our needs. He gives us the desires of our hearts as well but he asks for something in return. He wants our love, and I do not mean just to hear us say “I love you Lord”, though that pleases Him as well; He told Peter to feed His sheep. I believe Jesus wants us to do likewise in order to show our love to and for Him.
How do we do this?
Well, we can start by feeding people physically but that is not what Jesus is referring to; feed their souls. ‘’Show them the way, guide them in the steps I have given you to follow Peter. That is what Jesus was saying.
So to love God is to love one another and teach one another and encourage one another in Godly living.  God being love makes it easy for us to love Himself, and showing how much we love Him back by doing things that please Him is loving Him.
To love one another is to be as Corinthians 13 says;
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:1-13
It is said to love and be loved are two of the greatest things on Earth; to be loved by God and to love one another are even better! If these are true then I want to love God! I want Him to love me! I want to walk in His promises by way of following he path He has chosen for me; not just do what I think is right. I love Jesus, Jesus loves me, and so I will do what I can to please Him, to share the love that overflows from my heart to and with Him. It is my heart’s desire to please my God and have Him say well done to me some day, because I love Him, and because I know He loves me.  I know I am a far cry from being there, but I can try my best to show Him that I love Him. We all can try to show Him the love we have for Him by doing the works that He has given us to do. Pray, Worship, Feed, Teach. In Jesus Name.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank  you for Your Love. Help each one of us to feel Your love, to know You and know Your love will pass all understanding and will be unconditional, you love us no matter what. Thank you, in Jesus name, amen.
Suggested Reading:, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Romans 8:1-39, Ephesians 8:1-22 Colossians 2:1-23