Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
John 21:15-17
15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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.
We have all heard the cliché which says “Talk is Cheap.” The reality is, that anyone has the ability to talk a big game, but if there are no actions demonstrated to back up what their claim was, then all of what they were saying was really in vain. While growing up, there were several kids (including myself at times) who were great at talking a big game about how great they were good at a certain sport, but showed nothing in action to prove their point. At the end of the day, talk is cheap if you are unable to back it up.
In John 21, King Jesus gives a similar challenge to the Apostle Peter. The conversation between Christ and Peter came on the heels of Christ’s resurrection (John 20). He had defeated death, hell, and the Grave for all of mankind. After rising from the dead, he appeared to people for the next forty days. During one of those days, he encounters Peter and proceeds to ask him a few questions about his commitment and devotion to him. See, Peter was known throughout his time with Jesus for being the zealous disciple. He led the chant on how he was never going to deny Jesus in Matthew 26:35. Peter claimed that he absolutely loved Jesus, now Jesus was calling him to essentially prove that he did by his action.
Here is the reality friend, if we say we love Jesus, it will be proven in how we choose to live for Him. Our love for Jesus will be displayed in our actions and ultimately how we choose to live for Him. Now, we do not earn God’s love in what we do. We can’t do that. However, because of His love for us, we ought to express our love for Him in how we choose to live our lives. In John 21, Jesus calls Peter to show His love for Him by stepping out in faith and serving Him, and we know that he responded in obedience to show his love for God in the book of Acts. We too are called to express our love for Jesus in service to His church and to the lost.
If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of simply ascribing lip service love to God. It is easy to say with our mouths that we love him, yet allow for the way we live our lives to preach a different reality. 1 John 3:18 tells us that we ought to love God not just in word or in talk but in deed and in truth. What that looks like is walking in the Spirit, responding to the call of the Lord as He so leads; choosing to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord and valuing personal holiness (Colossians 1:10), and ultimately patterning your life after Jesus’ life (1 John 2:6).
This morning child of God, let us choose to be people who are more than just giving Jesus lip service love; but rather, people who prove their love for Him in how we respond in obedience to Him and how we choose to live for Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly father Lord, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for sending Jesus to buy my freedom back so that I can have a personal relationship with you again. Help me to be obedient to you today. Help for my love to be less about giving lip service to you and more about living for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Mark 14:38
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.