January 3, 2006

“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.” John 21:15

Peter was a man in need of a fresh start. It hadn’t been but a few days before this particular encounter with Jesus, that Peter had denied Christ not once but three gut-wrenching times.

Each of us has felt like Peter must have felt. We have all stumbled. We have all said or done something that when we look back upon it; we grimace because we just can’t believe that we did “that.”

I have often wondered what Peter must have felt when he first saw the resurrected Christ. Surely there was jubilation and awe at the sight of this man who had been crucified and buried. But I wonder…I wonder if he felt any guilt. I wonder if in the back of his mind he was saying to himself, “I can’t believe I denied Him. I can’t believe that in the most difficult moment of His life…I failed Him.”

Peter needed a fresh start.

And after an evening of fishing, Jesus had breakfast with the disciples. After they ate, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. But not just if he loved Him, but if “he loved Him more than these.” In the process of restoring Peter, we see Jesus emphasizing the importance of love. We see Him emphasizing the importance of loving Him more than anything else.

In our world we use love so flippantly. But, we must wrestle with the question that Jesus asks Peter. Do we love Him? Do we love Him more than anything else? Do we love Him more than our family? Do we love Him more than our careers? Do we love Him more than our possessions? Do we love Him?

Jesus didn’t ask Peter if he would serve Him or follow Him. He asked Peter if he loved Him. How about us? Do we love Him?

Today, as you walk with Christ, ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. Ask God to show you any ways that you are not loving Him fully and completely.