Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?" John 21:15
No question can match in importance the one Jesus asked Peter that early morning at the lakeside. Everyone who claims to be the Lord's disciple needs to make sure he or she has faced it and answered it honestly.
Jesus' question is simple and direct, and also personal, an indication perhaps that we should put our own name in place of Simon's: "Matthew, Emma, do you love Me?"
It is important to note, too, that He does not ask: Do you love My church or My Word or My worship?" Of course we should and as fully as possible. But the prior question is: "Do you love Me, the one who came to earth for you, died for you, earned forgiveness of sins and life everlasting for you?"
Jesus desires above all that our relationship to Him be on a "you-Me" basis, joined by the greatest of all words: Love.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the love with which You have enriched my life. Enable me to respond always, "You know that I love You;" for Jesus' sake. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 15-16 2 Corinthians 5
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