Yesterday, we saw that Jesus relied on God more over time, not less. While Jesus was constantly led by God, towards the end of His time on earth, He faced situations at the end of His life that He didn't want to do (were not His Will), yet did them because God led Him to do them. The same was said about Jesus' strongest disciple, Peter.
Remember, last week we covered the story of Jesus calling Peter "Satan".
After Jesus' resurrection, John records that Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. When Peter said he did, Jesus response was to tell Peter to feed my sheep. Jesus is using causality to show Peter that the effect of true love is serving (LEADERSHIP). Said another way, doing the First Commandment (Loving God) is a CAUSE and the EFFECT is doing the Second Commandment (Loving your neighbor).
Jesus is saying that if a person loves Him, they will listen to Him...and He will be telling them to serve others.
Peter gets frustrated by the repetition and asks WHY Jesus keeps saying this.
Jesus' response:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me." (John 21:18-19)
Jesus is blatantly telling Peter that as he continues God is going to direct Him more and more (GRACE) to the point Peter will be led into situations that he won't want to do...even unto death.
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3 comments:
JG
You wrote...
"Peter that the effect of true love is serving (LEADERSHIP). Said another way, doing the First Commandment (Loving God) is a CAUSE and the EFFECT is doing the Second Commandment (Loving your neighbor). "
You have done a great job of explaining how to love my neighbors, and even my enemies, it has helped me alot, thanks.
But, I still do not know what it means to love God!
I used to think that if I am practising love toward others it would cause me to love God, but you are saying that loving others is the effect, not the cause.
If I am practising love to others by giving value without requiring any in return, does that prove I love God, or could there be other causes?
MT (still cunfused)
MT,
We ought to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
What this means is that we ought to focus on giving to God in all these areas and not look for a return.
Heart - we ought to plant God's influence (choose God)
Mind - we ought to think about God
Soul - we ought to listen to God
Strength - we ought to do what God is telling us to do
When we do all of this, the result will be God directing our actions...which is to give to others and not expect anything from them.
If you truly give to someone else and truly don't expect them to give back, I believe this can ONLY happen because God is flowing through you.
If you give to someone and look or desire for them to pay you back, this isn't sin...but it isn't love.
So, I would say true love for others is proof you are loving God because there is no other way it can happen.
Wow! I am no where close to my "oughts", but at least now I have enough understanding to know what to aim for.
Thanks JG!
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