Thirsty Thursday's .3 Are you sure?

 

Who do you love?  Are you sure?

(John 21:15-17 NKJV) "(15) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, [son] of Jonah, 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." (16) 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." (17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, [son] of Jonah, 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."  Blue Letter Bible

Being a child of the nineties, I can't help but be song bombed by the ear worm melody and chorus of LL Cool J's Who Do You Love? Song.  Let me warn you that the song has a level of explicitness that you might not like.  It's in the environment of city life or social conflict.  The Bible is explicit too, not to suggest you shouldn't guard your heart.   

The point in all of this is Who do you love?  Are you sure?  When we love something or someone and I mean really love (1 Co. 13).  When we love we don't allow ourselves to become distracted by any other tempting opportunities.  We don't turn our head concerning ourselves with others when following Jesus.  We follow, trust and obey.  The result of our love expresses complete abandon.  

At this stage of the Gospel chronicle according to John, Jesus was redirecting Peter to fulfill the calling on his life, "feed my sheep".  The Lord Jesus Christ knew that passionate Peter would soon deny his "Lord" 3 times (Mt. 26:34).  After the crucifixion before the resurrected Jesus presented himself to the Apostles, in Peter's grief and hardship, he returned to that which was most familiar almost forgetting all that had transpired with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

With more than enough food and beverage while following Jesus before the crucifixion Simon Peter was satisfied.  Now Jesus of Nazareth, absent in body Peter returns to familiarity and determines he'll go fishing.  Yet catches nothing until the resurrected Christ directs the fishing nets (Breakfast at Sea Jn 21:1-19).  

May we all remember our first love.  May we learn what real love is and become loving people.  Committed to fulfilling our call to and for the cause of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Craving Righteousness.
Earnestly,
Pastor Nicholas