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After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples at Lake Tiberias ... ... ...
- When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly 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 truly 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."
Let us now imagine Jesus asking you, "do you love me?
What would your response be? I guess most of us would mumble yes; or perhaps say it more affirmatively. But let us consider the question again; Jesus is asking you whether you love Him.
And should you answer "Yes"; He then asks you, "How do you love me?"
Notice the question. "How do you love me?" not "How much ..."
Now that is very tricky. How do we answer such a question?
Do we say, "I love you by saying my prayers always"? By being a good Christian, (whatever that is). By being kind to everyone and loving my neighbour and my enemies too, (as if that is possible). By being always grateful and thankful, (yeah ... right!). By helping the poor, giving money to charity, helping in church blah blah blah ...
How can we answer the question, "How do you love me"?
I have thought this question for myself. I guess my answer would be, "Inadequately".
You see, no matter how hard I try, or whatever I do, I don't think I can ever love Jesus as He deserves or as much as He deserves.
I can say many prayers, light many candles, and do all sorts of good deeds; but at the end of the day I still feel I do not love Him enough or properly. I will always be found wanting, or way off the mark, when it comes to how I love Him.
His gift to us, and all that God has done for us, and continues to do every day, is such that it cannot possibly be repaid. Nor should it be so.
I repeat. Nor should it be so.
Our role in this one-to-one relationship with God is to accept gracefully and with gratitude all that He and Jesus have done for us; and as best we can to live according to His teachings and as He would wish us to.
This is our way to love Jesus. Inadequate it may be, but it will show that we will never stop in our pursuit to love Him as He deserves.
...many conservative Christians in the US don't understand this.
ReplyDeleteI guess too many people find it difficult to understand.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
You are right unfortunately many egos get in the way.
ReplyDeleteAs always, egos get in the way, Bill.
DeleteGod bless.
May Jesus increase in my life, and I decrease . . . No, we'll never love Him perfectly, Victor, but that doesn't mean we should stop trying.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Amen, Martha. God bless you.
DeleteInadequately. Yes, that's perfect. Still, I hope He who knows all things would know I'm trying.
ReplyDeleteHe knows we are trying and He forgives time and again.
DeleteGod bless, Mevely.
well said. Adequately will always be inadequately. There is no way that we could repay for Christ's sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteAmen Jack and Sherry. We can never repay Christ's sacrifice for us.
DeleteGod bless.
Your thoughtful post reminds me of the Thomas Merton prayer that includes the lines:
ReplyDelete"But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire."
Jesus knows when we are trying our best.
Very well said, Kathy. It is the desire to want to please God that matters; even if we fail in achieving it.
DeleteGod bless always.
Amen!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Happyone.
DeleteThat's why we needed Him to begin. In fact, from the time He created man, it was to be so, us dependent upon Him including for the ability to love Him.
ReplyDeleteThat is true, Mimi. Thank you.
DeleteGod bless.