I am persuaded that faithfulness is the ONLY thing that matters. Not just clinging on to mere words, but actually responding to that firm stand: faith expressing itself in love. Love is the true test of faith. Faith living all out for Jesus, nothing held back, whether fighting the fight and running the race, or simply resting in his loving arms. Faith expressing itself in love is the answer to “Do you (really) love me?”
You remember Jesus asking this same question of Peter – three times, each time drilling further to measure the depth of his love for the master. As you pray to the Heavenly Father do you ever hear him ask you, “Do you love me?” The first time is rather easy: of course I love you Lord. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have asked you into my life. “Yes, but do you love me?” He asks again. “Lord haven’t you seen me going to church, serving on church projects, and giving financially?” Without hesitation, Jesus asks again “Do you (really) love me?” And you realize it is not simply a matter of what you’ve done but who you are becoming in his image. Do you thirst after him as if you were in a very dry place with no water? Are you as excited about him as you are about your favorite sports team, your house, accomplishments, or even your family?
Each of the three questions are answered with “take care of my lamb” or “feed my sheep.” Jesus’ response to the question of our love for him is wrapped in the context of desiring what he desires, seeing people and circumstances as he sees them, not through the lens of our own ambitions.
“Do you love me?” reveals what in our heart is lifter to a higher level than our Lord? It asks us “who or what brings you the greatest satisfaction?” It confronts our hidden pride and selfish ambitions. It questions even our good deeds which become worthless to God if they are not led and inspired by his Spirit.
Even if your life starts resembling Job’s and losses seem insurmountable, will you be able to say, “Yes Lord, I love you.” Is Jesus really enough for you even if you lose all things or the one thing most precious to you in all this world?
Its not an easy question to answer honestly. We are so attached to the world, it’s hard to fully let go. It might not be easy to carry on. It’s not so much that we don’t love the Lord, but that we are so preoccupied we forget to answer the question. Perhaps that is our biggest challenge, to slow down enough to hear God ask, “Do you love me.” And to hear you responding back, “Yes Lord I really do love you. More over, thank you for first loving me!