Sunday, February 16, 2014

February 17, 2014

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19

Again, meditating on this Scripture I see three things true about love.

First, love must be assessed.


I must constantly ask the Spirit to search my heart and reveal if I am loving God in my own strength or if I submitted to receive His love.


Am I being a fan or a devoted follower?


Second, love must be possessed.


If I want to be in possession of God's love, I must be possessed of His Spirit. To be possessed of his Spirit I must be consecrated to Him so the blood of Christ can cleanse and purify my heart. Only when my heart is made perfect can I possess His perfect love.


Third, love must be expressed.


God shares His love with me so I can share it with others.


The love of God is not lavished on me just for my enjoyment. He intends His love to shown and to be shared!


While is love is unconditional He does desire that my attitudes and actions reflect the power of His love at work in me. How can I be in possession of His perfect love and not have it show through the way I love others?



Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. I John 4:7-21

Will you assess your love today?


Will you be possessed by His love today?


How will you express His love today?