“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. (John 21:15 NKJV) In the space of forty days between the Lord Jesus’ triumphant Resurrection from the dead and His glorious Ascension into heaven, the Lord Jesus appeared ten times to His disciples. The third appearance of the risen Lord Jesus to His disciples was at the Sea of Tiberias where His disciples had gone fishing with Simon Peter, having abandoned the ministry the Lord had given them. When Simon Peter said to other disciples: I am going fishing. They said to him, We are going with you also. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:3 NKJV). But just as day was breaking, the Lord Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was the Lord. While the disciples were about giving up after toiling all night in vain, the Lord Jesus appeared to them, asking, Children, have you any food? They answered Him, No. And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” (John 21:5-6 NKJV). This miracle immediately opened the eyes of understanding of John the beloved and he screamed to Peter, It is the Lord! Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.” (John 21:7-8 NKJV). Besides the miracle of catching a multitude of fish at the instant the Lord spoke to them, another miracle was waiting for them at the shore. The Scripture reveals: “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.” (John 21:9 NKJV). The Lord had already prepared a breakfast for them! What they expended their time and energy to look for was already waiting for them at the Lord’s feet. Likewise, many believers today are expending or wasting their time and strength on the things which the Lord has already provided for them at His feet. Like Peter, when you abandon your God-given calling, purpose, or vision in life to pursue your personal and selfish desires and ambitions, then you should expect the Lord Jesus to ask you the same question several times, saying, “Do you love Me more than these?” Then the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, Come and eat breakfast. Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, Who are You? --knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.” (John 21:12-13 NKJV). When the disciples had finished eating breakfast, then the Lord asked Simon Peter the same questions three times, saying, 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. (John 21:15 NKJV). But when the Lord asked Simon Peter the same question the third time, Simon was grieved and troubled, and he said: Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.” (John 21:17 NKJV). Afterwards, the Lord said to Peter, “Follow Me.” (John 21:19 NKJV). Like Peter, when you abandon your God-given calling, purpose, or vision in life to pursue your personal and selfish desires and ambitions, then you should expect the Lord Jesus to ask you the same question several times, saying, “Do you love Me more than these?” When your heart and eyes are set or fixed only on the gifts that the Lord would give you and not on the Lord (the Giver) Himself, then you should expect the Lord to ask you the same question many times, “Do you love Me more than these?” When you allow the worries, anxieties and cares of this life – what you will eat, what you will wear, where you will live, or how you will pay your bills - to rule, dominate or capture your heart, then the Lord would ask you the same question repeatedly (Do you love Me more than these?) until you realize your foolishness and unbelief. When you compromise your spiritual and moral standards or principles in order to procure your heart’s desires, to gratify your lusts, or to achieve your selfish ambitions in life, then it is time to face the Lord’s question, “Do you love Me more than these?” When you become completely immersed in, engrossed or occupied with the affairs of this present life, thereby not looking forward to the glorious return of the Lord Jesus, then it is time to expect the Lord’s question, “Do you love Me more than these?” Beloved, the Lord Jesus surely has a glorious calling, purpose, vision or ministry for you as He had for Simon Peter and the rest of His disciples. The Lord has been preparing you for the unique ministry He has for you. The Scripture states: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 NKJV). However, it will take you loving the Lord, not merely in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth, and far above anyone or anything else to fulfil the ministry that you have received from the Lord. If there is anyone or anything in this life that you still love more than the Lord Jesus, then you are not yet ready to walk in the good works which the Lord has prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. Friend, what are you passionately or desperately chasing after in life? What are you expending your time and energy to acquire in life? What are you always praying and fasting to possess in this life? The Lord Jesus is asking you today, “Do you love Me more than these?” If you truly do, just as the Lord said to Simon Peter, the Lord is saying to you today, “Leave all behind and follow Me.” My Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for loving things more than You. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with God’s love to the extent that I will love You more than all things and willingly leave all things behind to follow You daily, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:31:10 +0000