Do We Love God More?

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17 ESV)

I personally believe there is a connection between Jesus Christ asking Peter 3 times if he loved him and Peter’s 3 denials of our Lord when Jesus was falsely arrested and put on trial and then put to death on that cross for our sins. Since he had denied our Lord 3 times, even after Jesus had warned him that he was going to do that, but Peter thought he knew better, I believe the Lord Jesus was having Peter reaffirm his love for the Lord 3 times.

With regard to the “more than these,” we don’t really know what the “these” were, but it doesn’t matter. The point is, in all practicality to our lives, do we love Jesus more than anything and anyone else? Does he get top billing in our lives? Is he truly our Lord (owner-master)? Do we follow him in obedience? Is he in first place in our lives? Or are there other things in our lives we love (prefer, seek after, long for) more than him?

Now Jesus told Peter that if he loved him that he was to feed his sheep. Now he is talking of those who love the Lord, who are listening to him, and who are obeying him (John 10:27-28). We are the Lord’s sheep. And to feed them/us is not with physical food but with spiritual food. But this is not for just people who are in full-time ministry or who are in positions of pastor, elder, deacons, and evangelists, et al. We all are to feed our Lord’s sheep.

For we read in the Scriptures that we, as the body of Christ, are to care for one another. And the Spirit has gifted us with spiritual gifts to minister to the body of Christ, and God has given each one of us an assignment within the body of Christ, as a whole, which he intends for us to fill, which are our body parts. And so we are to help one another to grow to maturity in Christ by speaking the truth in love one to the other. And this will help us to not be led astray by people in their deceitful scheming, but to grow up in Christ.

And then we are to address one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, like for instance the Lord may put it on my heart to share a song with you and it may be the Lord would minister to your spirit in that way. And we are to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. And we are to exhort one another every day so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we are to stir up one another to love and good deeds, and to encourage one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near, which we are indeed seeing.

[Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Do We Love God More?

Video Talk

February 2, 2023

https://youtu.be/FCZ-JAwWiXY

Caution: This link may contain ads

My Sheep  

An Original Work / June 24, 2012  

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full… 

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263