Love God, Love people

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

“Yes Lord, he said to Him, “You know that love you. 

“Feed My lambs”, He told him.  A second time, He asked him, “Simon, son of John, to you love Me?”

“Yes Lord”, he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.  He asked him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was grieved that He asked him the thirst time, “Do you love Me?” He said, Lord You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed my sheep”, Jesus said.

As soon as I entered the room, she turned towards me.  Thrusting the toy from her hand with her gaze fixated on me, she hobbled in my direction.  Reaching up, she grinned ear to ear sighing as she melted into my embrace.  Before they have words, we know our children love us.  The cries when we leave. The joy when we return.  The squeals of glee as we enter a room.  Climbing in our laps whenever we find a seat.  They act out their love.  They don’t have to say it for us to know it.  Actions speak louder than words.  In this passage, Jesus calls upon Peter and us to do the same.  Show your love by doing.  Let’s explore this further.   

All you need is love

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matt 22:36-39.   All you need is love is not just a catchy lyric from a Beetles’ song but the answer to the question that sums up the gospel.  Because of His love we were created and are saved.  Love is the foundation of the gospel story so it is no wonder that Jesus said this is the greatest commandment.  The heart of the father is love and it’s the heart of the message He wants to share with all of us.

Love God love people

First love God and then love people.  The order matters because we must put God first because we can not do anything apart from Him including loving one another.  “…God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” 1 John 4:16b.  Love is the first fruit of the spirt noted in Gal 5:22.  This means there is a seed planted in us to love with a godly love.  The more time we spend in His presence the better our capacity to love.  The more we love Him the easier it will be to follow His commandment to love others. 

Let your actions speak

John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”  Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  His followup response was to take an action.  It’s easy to say something but the actions need to back it up.  Jesus wanted Peter to prove it with his walk.  After denying him three times, the words alone would not suffice.  Action must be taken.  We must show His love to others. Love might come through by being a listening ear or praying for others.  Love comes through when we share the word with others and discipline our children.   

God wants us to feed His sheep too. This starts for us as mom with the children God gave us.  We pour love into them through our actions which includes us purposing to share the gospel with them.  Letting them know that God loves them and it is a love that can be removed.  As we share the truth of God’s word we nurture the seed to love within them and us.  As this love grows, our capacity to love outside ourselves expands and takes on other forms. 

Sow the seed: Stay in His word and keep our children in His word to love deeper and keep His commands.

Nurture the seed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matt 22:36-39.