Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.
But He did not just say, "Do you love Me?"
He said, "Do you love Me more than these?"
We might think Jesus was asking if Peter loved Him more than any of the other disciples loved Him.
But Jesus" Question was much deeper than that. What are "these?"
Jesus needs our complete and total surrender to Him. He needs us to come to Him empty handed, indeed, emptied of everything that is us alone.
He needs us to understand we are entitled to nothing.
We can put no conditions on following Him.
He told the rich, young ruler to sell everything he had and follow Him.
He told His Disciples to take nothing when they went out to minister.
He said even putting one's family before Him was not ok.
He said those who commit and then turn back are not worthy of the kingdom.
Job discovered that even his own body was not his to command. God was in charge of that too.
Jesus told Peter The Truth. Following Him would not be easy. In fact, Jesus told him he would be taken places he did not want to go.
So Jesus' question to Peter was really, "Do you love Me more than you love anyone or anything else in this world? Do you understand if I ask you to give up any of them to carry out My Plan, you will have to be willing to do it? Are you ready to come to Me empty so I can fill you?"
God has been asking me that recently. As health challenges have continued, causing new limitations in life, I have begged God to let me keep what I still have.
He has not promised that. He has promised He will be with me wherever we go. He has promised He has a good Plan to give me a future and a hope.
When I thank Him for all the Blessings I enjoy, He says, "You are welcome. But tell me, Carolyn, do you love Me more than these?"
And so we walk on together, while He patiently waits for my answer.
Do you love Me more than these?
John 21:15
No comments:
Post a Comment