Connecting Columbia Union Seventh-day Adventists

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October 30, 2021: Do You Love Jesus?

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’” (John 21:15, NKJV).

Have you ever wondered how to love someone even after they hurt you? After the death of Jesus, some of His disciples, including Peter, went fishing. They had spent almost all night with no success. Early in the morning, an unknown man on the shore told them to throw the net on the other side. Confused, they did. At that moment, Peter immediately knew it wasn’t an ordinary person; it was Jesus. He couldn’t contain his excitement after seeing all the fish, and he jumped out of the boat and swam to shore to see Jesus.

There was unsettled business between them, because, prior to Jesus’ death, Peter had denied him three times. After the third time, Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter knew immediately what he had done. Following, he “went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62, NKJV). The love that Jesus had for Peter did not die; instead He wanted to restore Peter.

After the morning breakfast by the shore, as told in John 21, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus repeated the question three times, each time breaking Peter’s heart. But then Jesus went on to say two words Peter was desperately in need of: “Follow Me.” Peter had been restored!

Jesus asks us today, “Do you love me more than anything else—your job, your sports team, even your family? When we tell Him, yes, like Peter did, He heals, restores and calls us to follow Him.

Lord, thank You for loving the unlovable like us. Amen.

Eddie Reyes is the pastor of the Marlinton, Lewisburg and Rainelle churches in West Virginia.