Reading in John 21 this morning - the story of Jesus asking Peter, not once - but 3 times, "Do you love me?". I was reminded of a teaching I once heard by Beth Moore. She was talking about the progression that occurs each time Jesus asks the question.
First there is the growing frustration in Peter at being asked the same question repeatedly. Second is the emphasis on the word LOVE that grows with each time Jesus asked the question. I can't seem to track down the specifics about the different forms of the greek word for love that are used in this passage but the gist of it was that by the third time Jesus is really asking...
"Peter, do you LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE me?". More than anything or anyone else do you love me (not just do you love me like you love pizza, or do you love me like you love your parents but do you love me like you have never loved before?
In our staff meeting yesterday our Pastor, Dan Nold, posed the question: "Do we live like Jesus is our King?" Do I live like Jesus is the ruler of my life or am I the ruler of my life. Do I live like Jesus is my King or do I let other people/things rule my heart, my life?? In other words - it's Jesus saying to me...
"Kim, do you LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE me?"
