Reflection

John 15:¹⁶ “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

Yesterday, we highlighted four different expressions of love for God based on growth [level] in God. The spiritual infant expresses love for God by eating, sleeping, crying, and so on. The spiritual child expresses love through obedience and devotion. The spiritual teenager expresses love for God via contribution. And the spiritual adult expresses love for God by reproduction. Take note that at every new stage, the expression of love is cumulative. Meaning, by the time the person becomes a spiritual adult, all the other expressions of love are still part of his or her expressions of love. God measures love from a spiritual adult by fruit. So, the love in your heart remains relevant, but heaven is expecting you to reproduce.

Take me for instance, how I show my love to God is not in my devotion alone. I have my devotion; I tell God I love Him more than anything, I give my heart to Him, and I sing to Him. But I still have to get up and feed His sheep. How I show my love to Jesus is by taking care of His church, His people – you. My service is a reflection of my love. It does not make sense for people who are supposed to be taking care of sheep to be insisting on getting devotion, it is just Jesus and me first. Heaven is expecting you to feed the sheep, but you are insisting that it has to be just you and Jesus. Newsflash, you are alone in that place – Jesus has left there. He is waiting for you where you will feed the sheep. My question to you is, what is required at your level?

Jesus was also giving Peter the encouragement that he badly needed. Although Peter had been forgiven, he might still be tempted to believe that he had lost or forfeited his place in leadership. So, Jesus was re-emphasising to Peter that he was the one to feed Jesus’ sheep. Another layer of interpretation is that Jesus wanted to let Peter know that his credibility and acceptability is based on His love. There is nothing in Peter’s past that could disqualify him from leadership. That is huge! This was the same person that denied Jesus with swearing, just a few days ago. And Jesus was committing His sheep to this same Peter. That is big.

When Jesus said, ‘Do you love me more than these…’ what was Jesus referring to? It is easy to read that scripture and think that word is “this” but it is “these”. What was Jesus referring to? Matt. 26:³³ “Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Mark 14:²⁹ “Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” So, Jesus was saying to Peter, ‘Do you love Me more than these?’ Secondly, do you love Me more than these boats and nets, more than this vocation of yours, more than these brethren of yours that you claim? Jesus was asking, ‘Peter, will I turn My back now and you will go-a-fishing for fish? Or will you go-a-fishing for men as I desire? Please Read John 21:18-22 as your assignment. Please do it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask for the grace to love You more than everything that represents “these” in my life. I ask for the grace to always prioritize You, in Jesus Name. Amen!