"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." (John 21:15) The Apostle John narrates a unique story of the concluding part of Jesus' ministry on earth - one of the things that happened after His resurrection. It was an uneventful afternoon after the disciples went back to their forsaken professions following the shameful and sorrowful death of Jesus. They abandoned the ministry for which Jesus had been training them, and allowed the fear and intimidation of the Roman and Jewish leaders get to them. In this lesson, we are going to see how God views our love as an act of worship... one that He wants exclusively for Himself "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." (Deut 6:5).
There must be a place in our lives that is reserved exclusively for God. There must be a part of our love that we cannot share with anyone other than God. As much as God wants us to love our neighbours, our friends, our family and other important things in our lives, He also makes it clear that none of those things should take His place in our lives. In our order of priorities, God must come first - non-negotiable! people who reserve God to the second or later position soon find out that God is never happy with that arrangement. God wants to take the first place in our life. He wants to be at the head and center of everything. In fact, the Bible clearly warns that whatever takes the place of God or whatever we seem to love more than God becomes an idol to us.
Jesus asked Peter three times, if he loved Him more than everything else; and Peter responded in the affirmative. In fact, at a point he got offended at Jesus' pressing inquisition. Our professed and supposed love for God must be given the second and third menacing look. We must critically xray the things we do all in the name of loving God. We must look at it over and over and be sure that we are truly doing those things out of love for God and not a means of self aggrandizement. Jesus taught Peter that our love for God will be properly scrutinized, and it is only when it has passed the test of fire that we shall be rewarded.
Friend, what is it that is taking the place of God in your life? What is that thing that keeps you from going to church, reading your Bible, praying when you should?... Watch it and be sure that those things have not turned to idols in your life. Today, Jesus is still asking that heart rending question, just as He asked Peter three times on that day. He is standing at the door of your heart, and as He looks at everything you do and all the things that seek and controls your attention and schedule, He is silently asking: "Do you love me more than these?"