Friday, April 10, 2009

Love,
Love changes everything:
Hands and faces,
Earth and sky.
Love,
Love changes everything:
How you live and
How you die.

Love
Will turn your world around,
And that world
Will last for ever.

Yes, Love,
Love changes everything,
Brings you glory,
Brings you shame.
Nothing in the
World will ever
Be the same.

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."


"Do you truly love me more than these?"
What are these that keep you from loving Jesus? What is it that stops you - mentally, emotionally, intellectually - from giving him the 1st priority in your life?


"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
It's not a new thing. Jesus knows that Simon Peter loved him. It is not a new thing, but it is a renewal of a love that got cold, that faded away. So many of us have been Christians for a very, very long time. Often as long as we have been born - Sunday School, Church camps, Youth camps, Christian schools, you name it. But the first love - that fire and passion that we felt during a Youth Camp, or a special Easter or Christmas service, when we first gave our lives to God - that first love has faded, over the years. We let it fade, let it become routine, mechanical - and so we lose that love.


"Feed my lambs."
"Do you love me?" is a question that not only demands an answer, but also our actions. Faith without works is dead - not that we can earn salvation by work, but that if we intellectually acknowledge God's sovereignty yet do nothing about it in practicality, our faith is worth very little.


"Feed my lambs."
We are not owners of God's sheep! Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Cell Group Leaders, Youth Workers - you are NOT owners of God's sheep. Therefore handle with care. For we are accountable to God for the welfare of his sheep - his sheep, which he loves.


The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
3 times. Not merely because Simon Peter had denied him 3 times - as if it was a mere legality, 3 cancellations of 3 sins! -.- No, this repeated question is asked to make sure we know what we are being asked, and we think before answering.
Too often we answer without thinking, without considering the entire meaning of our words, and their implication. "Do you love me?" demands an answer and requires our actions, but most of all it necessitates a soul-searching response within us.
Being questioned, being doubted can bring hurt into our hearts. But sometimes, it's necessary to be questioned so that we will check - Am I serious? Do I really mean what I say?


Off
Into the world we go,
Planning futures,
Shaping years.
Love,
Bursts in, and suddenly
All our wisdom
Disappears.

Love
Makes fools of everyone:
All the rules
We make are broken.

Yes, Love,
Love changes everyone.
Live or perish
In its flame.
Love will never,
Never let you
Be the same.

Posted by nayrakroarual at 6:10 PM

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