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.” —John 21:15-18
So often when we fall and come up short, we want to shut out the grace of God. Our hearts are locked tightly with shame. We would never dare imagine that the God who knows all things actually knows that we are genuine lovers of Jesus. Instead, we become so focused on our stumbling that we are washed away by despair, losing sight of the fact that we are lovers of God and are loved by God. But when we do, we are placing our confidence in something other than the burning love of Jesus and the finished work of the Cross. If we fix our eyes and hearts on the finished work that was accomplished in His death, the Lord will then come to us and cause us to confess the truth of who we are before Him.
{ PRAYER STARTER }
Jesus, I want to be a genuine lover of You. Help me to fix my eyes and heart on Your finished work at Calvary. Let me come into a realization of Your great sacrificial love for me.
The Lord came back in resurrected power, looked
into Peter’s face, and gave him bold new definition:
“You are loved, and you are a lover.”
