Bible Reading: Ezra 6-8; John 21
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” John 21:15 (KJV)
Loving Jesus because He has graciously forgiven all your sins is the foundational motive for serving Him. In our scriptural text, the Lord Jesus was instructing and reiterating to Peter on the foundational motive for serving Him: Love.
Following the statement of Jesus are the two great commandments: to love God and to love others. If we love God because of His love and grace toward us, we will serve Him by loving others. So loving Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, who gave Himself on the cross to rescue us from God’s judgment, is the essential motive for serving Him. If that motive is not central in your heart, you will burn out or blow out in your service for the Lord.
Apostle Paul stated in 1 Cor. 13:1-3 paraphrased, you may be the world’s most eloquent speaker, but if you don’t love Jesus you’re just a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. You may have impressive spiritual gifts and great theological knowledge and faith that can remove mountains, but if you don’t love Jesus, it’s all worth nothing. You may give away all your possessions and even suffer martyrdom, but if you do it without love for Jesus, it profits you nothing. Love for Jesus is the essential motive for all you do for Him.
When Christ saves you, it’s always on a personal basis. If Jesus has saved you, it’s not because of anything in you, but rather because of God’s overwhelming love for the world and redemption of man. Jesus died on the cross for you because He loved you. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (KJV). He desires your love in response to His great love for you. Thus, Loving Jesus from the heart is the main thing to focus on in our relationship with Him.
Prayer: Father, empower me with the spirit of love to enable me love Jesus and serve Him with delight.
Pastor Alfred Samuel