Do You Love ME?

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.” 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.” 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.

(John 21:15-17)

I see this image of Jesus after the Resurrection and Peter talking. Its after this intimate breakfast with all the disciples after a long drawn out night of fishing and soul searching. And Jesus cuts right to the chase, "Do you love me more than these?" The question that arises is what is "these?" Now these could mean: "Do you love me more than these (Fish)" or "Do you love me more than these (other men)?" Regardless Jesus his really asking and probing Peter about his love and belief in Christ. When Jesus is asking do you love me; He is using the Greek word agapao. This love is a Godly love and is a deeper style of love and a passion for that other person. But Peter's response is "you know I love." The love he uses is the Greek word phileo. This is a brotherly love or genuine affection. Its very vague in response to the other form of love.

It is interesting that Peter had such a lesser response. Peter grieved over this and it is plain to see that he is disappointing with himself. I guess the real question is, do we really love God? I wonder if we really love Him as much as we say we do. When you are in love with someone or something you usually do crazy things. Love makes you do crazy things. When Liz and I first started dating I remember doing things for her. I borrowed her car once to run errands and in the process I cleaned to outside and inside of her car, and then I also put a full tank of gas in her car. I also left her this super sweet note to go along with it. I didn't do it out of obligation, but out of love and a caring heart. You see, when we someone then we will be willing to do any crazy things for them. I wonder if we do crazy things for God out of love? Do we or is it out of obligation? Or do we even love him. You see after Jesus left Peter and ascended into Heaven; we see people go do all these crazy things out of his love for Jesus. Preaching to thousands to healing and etc.

So do we love God? Are we crazy about him? I hope we begin to fall madly, deeply and crazy in love with God!! The God who spoke the earth into existence and saved our souls..."Do You Love Me?"

My Two Request Unto God

Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

(Proverbs 30:7-9)

This is the only prayer that is in the book of Proverbs; it is the prayer of Agur. It is something very simple, yet is something that I personally will begin to be praying for. I feel in someway that it is the prayer that I want for my life. Notice that in this prayer, there is only two requests that is asked of the Lord.

The first request is "keep falsehood and lies far from me." I think this means two things. It means that he wants to be a person of integrity, who has no lies and deceit come from his mouth. I think in someway it is saying "Lord keep me from spreading false truth about you and everything in general." I think it also means "God protect me from false truth that is around me." It implies both that he doesn't want to be lair and that he doesn't want to have lies around him. He is not only asking to not spread false truth, but also that he will be delivered or protected from any false truth that may be in this world.

The second request is "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." This second request is two fold. Give me neither riches or poverty. He is saying God don't give me riches, because I know that if you do give me riches then I will probably forget God and be completely satisfied in myself. God don't give me poverty, because I will probably steal and cheat, and that will only dishonor and profane the name of God. Instead of asking for either he insists that God only give him his "daily bread." The bare minimum, the living pay check to pay check. He was literally praying "God don't give me too much, only enough to survive for the day." Saying this means that he wants to stay totally dependent in God alone!

My prayer for myself is that God will only give the daily necessities so I am still completely and utterly dependent on God. I hope you as well will read this and challenge yourself to pray this and to rest solely in the goodness and grace of Christ.