DO YOU LOVE💕 ME

While observing my quiet time yesterday, the question of our Lord to Peter in John 21:15-17 and Peter's response, passed a resounding message to me.

John 21(ESV) 15:When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.”

16:He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17:He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Am sure Jesus knew that Peter loved Him but He wanted to get that affirmation and reassurance from Peter again and I think the Lord was very intentional with His questions just so He could remind Peter of where his love and loyalty lies or where it should lie. He wanted to hear it from Peter just to bring His consciousness back to Him (His first love). So, is possible that we could love but may sometimes not be conscious of our love or our commitment to our loved ones. We could love but are failing in feeding the sheep and lamp that are committed to us as a result of our love. This is where the partner or the other lover helps us to become conscious of our love and commitment again - that's exactly what the Lord did.

Peter, got distracted along the way and distracted away from the love of the Lord. Even today, we also sometimes get distracted, maybe due to one struggle or the other, when it seems like the Lord is far from us or He is delaying in showing up. Just as Jesus heard those words from Peter, I trust He would love to also hear us say to Him, Lord, "I Love you", I believe this has a way of helping us remain committed to Him and our consciousness always geared toward the love of the Lord.

Just like Peter, are you sure you have not abandoned your First Love love and the Lord is asking you, do you love me morethan that job/career? Have you been able to answer Him and have you returned to your First Love?

Even in marriages, though am not yet married but I believe that there are times in marriages when a spouse intentionally asks' the partner, Do you love me/Do you still love me? The other partner like Peter might feel offended when such question is asked repeatedly but this happens not because they are probably in doubt of their partner's love for them but because they want to awaken that consciousness and hear those re-assuring and committing words over and over again; "I love you".

Learn to say it to your spouse, learn to say it to the Lord in all sincerity and feed and tend the sheep committed to your care.

I Love 💖 You!