Today’s Daily Bread ~ Do you love me?

John 21:17 – Once more He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time.  He said, “Lord, You know everything.  You know I love you.”

If you were to ask my parents if I had been a good kid growing up, particularly as a teenager, they would likely tell you, “Yes.”  However, I’m fairly certain that they would be quick to add an addendum: “She had no choice; she got caught every time she tried to get away with something.”  Unfortunately, I got away with a tad more than they might know, but I did get caught almost every time.  Looking back, I can see how it foreshadowed the relationship I would come to have with my Heavenly Father.

Case in point: God has revealed to me over the past year and a half how crucial obedience is in order to have a good relationship with Him.  He has really put it on my heart that, if I want to live a life He can bless, I simply must live a life of obedience.  As I have eliminated some of my bigger, habitual sins, He has started to work on the smaller ones.  A good example – speeding.

Just about everyone speeds.  In fact, most people don’t consider driving five miles per hour over the posted limit speeding.  I once had an officer tell me (as he handed me a ticket for going 19 mph over) that, on the highway, I probably wouldn’t get pulled over as long as I kept it under 70 (in a 60 mph zone).  But God does not view it that way: Obey the government, for God is the One who put it there.  All governments have been placed in power by God.  So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. ~ Romans 13:1-2. 

This morning I got off to a late start.  I had some extra duties to complete before the show, and had meant to give myself extra time, but I left a full 20 minutes later than I’d wanted to.  I backed out of the garage with a nervous feeling in my stomach for two reasons: one, I was running late.  Two, I knew I was going to deliberately and intentionally disobey God.

I drove most of the way into work going about 75 mph until I could no longer take the conviction.  I could literally feel the Holy Spirit withdrawing as I ignored His nudges to slow down.  So, with about 7 miles left on my trip, I set the cruise control at 60 and apologized. 

Normally on my commute in, I listen to a radio sermon for the first ten minutes, and then drive the rest of the way either in prayer, listening to the Lord, or memorizing Scripture.  This morning I had the radio turned up good and loud, trying, unsuccessfully, to distract myself from the accusing voice of my Savior.  The Pastor I was listening to was one I’d heard of before, John MacArthur, from Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California.  He was preaching on one of my favorite passages in the Gospel of John, chapter 21, verses 15-18.  In it, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him.  Each time he answers yes, Jesus replies, “Then feed my sheep.”  I have always assumed this exchange showed Jesus’ concern for the poor.  Jesus is very concerned for the poor, but this portion of the Gospel is illustrating something else.  After hearing Mr. MacArthur’s sermon, and studying it for myself, I can see that I had missed something very important.

When Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, the original language uses the word agapaó, or agápē for the word love.  Greek has four different words for love in the Greek language.  Agape is the strongest of the four, meaning love in its truest sense, sacrificial love, the kind of love that God has for us; the kind of love that drives a man to stretch out His arms on a cross and offer up His life for ours.  There is also eros, meaning a passionate, attraction driven love; storge, which is typically used within the boundaries of a family – the kind of love that allows you to put up with a crazy uncle, etc.; and philia, which is more of a friendship type of love, or a dispassionate kind of love.  John MacArthur describes philia as really liking someone a lot.

When Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these (21:15)?”  He was asking Peter with the word agapaó, a self-sacrificing, all-encompassing love.  “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love you.”  What our English translation doesn’t convey is that Peter answers with philia.  He knew he couldn’t hide anything from Jesus.  He answered honestly.  He really liked Jesus a lot; He felt loyalty toward Him and loved Him as best He could.  But He had denied Jesus three times.  Jesus was exposing Peter’s heart.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me (21:16)?”  Again, Jesus uses agapaó.  “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love you.”  Again, Peter answers with philia.  Once more He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  This time, Jesus also uses the word philia.  And Peter was grieved.  The word in the Greek here is lupeó – which means grief, heaviness, and also sorrow; made sorrowful.  Jesus was exposing Peter’s heart, and it grieved him greatly.

It’s no coincidence to me that I heard that particular sermon this particular morning.  Real love, agape love, means you obey, and you obey with a joyful heart out of love.  I felt as though Jesus was saying the same thing to me that He said to Peter….Child, I know that you that you have great affection for me.  But what I want to know is this:  Do you love me?  Do you love me enough to obey me no matter the cost?  Does my opinion matter more than anyone else’s?  Sadly, I, like Peter, have room to grow in this department.  And it grieves me.

Dear Heavenly Father, we know that our walk with You is a growth process.  Please help us to love you more, with real, true, strong agapaó love!  Forgive us for our sins, Lord.  Particularly when we deliberately disobey You.  We thank You with all our hearts for convicting us when we do, and we ask that You would convict us even more!  Create in us new hearts, Lord, that are capable of pure, self-sacrificing love.  Purify us, refine us, and mold us into the people You created us to be.  Help us to surrender our will to Yours, and to put Your opinion of us over anyone else’s.  Bless us to be a blessing to others, and help us to be a light that shines so brightly for You.  We love You so much, Lord, and we ask these things in the precious, holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.