By Andrew Williams
John 21:10-11,15 NLT
[10] “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. [11] So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
[15] After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Good morning fellow disciples.
What were the things that you loved to do before you became a disciple of Christ?
When you falter in your Christian walk do you return to doing these pleasurable things?
When you begin to realize the real cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ do you give up and return to your former lifestyle?
In Luke 5:10 NLT, when Jesus calls the fisherman Peter to be His disciple, Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”
Peter then spent 3 years following Jesus, but after Jesus’ death he decided to go back to fishing for fish. Now Jesus encounters him after this fishing episode and asks him a question: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
I believe that God is asking us a similar question: “My child, do you love me more than your former lifestyle or anything that this world can offer?”
We all need to answer this question honestly. Our answer will determine the trajectory of the rest of our lives.
Peter’s answer was: Yes Lord, You know I love you!
What will your answer be?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, these interactions with Peter reminds me of your plan and purpose for my life that you revealed to me when I first became your disciple.
I confess that at times I have forgotten Your words, that I’ve been afraid, that I ran away from You, that I have not fully committed to You, and even when I recommitted to serving you I still was in love with the things I initially left to follow you.
I have listened to Your question. Thank You for reminding me of the choice that I made to follow You.
Do I love You more than anything else? Yes, I do Lord.
I now recommit to follow You wholeheartedly for the rest of my life. Amen.
