John 21:15-19
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter
was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he
answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to
know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling
you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and
went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch
out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you
don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which
Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
While Timothy was out of
school for Spring Break, he delivered Meals on Wheels with Greg, and
afterward, they went to Walmart. Timothy had a little spending money,
and Greg let him pick out a toy – and he made up the difference in
price. So when the boys came to stay with us last week, Timothy assumed
that we would return to the store and shop for more toys. He was quite
disappointed to learn that this was not in our plans. Trust me…our
kids have MORE THAN ENOUGH toys already and get plenty of “treats!”
At
one point, Timothy was talking about all we were going to do while he
and Nathan visited, and he said, “You must not want to share your love
with us anymore.” I asked him why he thought that, and he said, “Well,
if you loved me, you would do what I want!” I laughed. He knows better
than this…he was just being a six-year-old. But as I read Jesus’ words
to His disciples in this passage, I did think about how WE adults often
make demands on JESUS – and place conditions on His love.
We have
it all twisted. We want to tell Jesus, “If You loved ME, You would do
such-and-such. You would fix ABC or XYZ and make everything perfect in
our little world.” Jesus has nothing to prove to us. The evidence of
His love is all around us…and just like Timothy knows that we love
him…WE know better when it comes to Jesus’ love! WE should be seeking
ways to demonstrate our love to Jesus…not the other way around!
We
are not six-year-olds…and it’s time we grew up and developed some
“faith muscle.” Jesus has been very clear about how to show our love to
Him - feed His sheep…serve...encourage…love others others…and nurture
them in their faith. Offer whatever you can to help people - and give
them hope. Live in a way that instills confidence in the promises of
God…and assurance of Eternity in His presence for all who believe in
Him.
Feed the lambs…shepherd the sheep…show Jesus how much you
love Him. Jesus shows us His love and care every single day. He gave
His very life on the cross for our sins. He is preparing a place in
Heaven for us for all of Eternity! It is abundantly clear how much He
loves us. If we truly love HIM…it’s time to show Him. The time has
come to get busy on this…are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label what we expect of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what we expect of God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 30, 2015
Nehemiah 1:11
O Lord, please hear my prayer! Heed the prayers of those of us who delight to honor you. Please help me now as I go in and ask the king for a great favor—put it into his heart to be kind to me.” (I was the king’s cupbearer.)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I’ve had to laugh lately at our little nephew, Nathan. Since September, he has stayed with us a couple of days each week while his parents work…and to put it mildly, the kid thinks he “owns the joint!” So when Timothy and Zola joined him this week for the day, Nathan did not take too kindly to sharing his space – or us – with his older siblings. This kid knows no fear about asking for things…and he is so darned cute that it’s hard to fuss at him when he hollers from my office, “I need ‘shocklit’ milk!” and expects it to magically appear in a sippy cup for him as he sits and watches YouTube videos!
Suddenly, the chair in which Nathan sits became “my chair” if his sibs looked at it crossways. As we read books while sitting on the couch – Nathan on one side and Zola on the other – he was none too happy when Zola wrapped her arms across my body. How dare she claim even my mid-section as “hers!” And when Zola’s hand brushed Nathan’s arm, he went into orbit! By the end of the day, there had been a few tantrums, as one frustrated 3-year-old boy tried to claim his “territory” and demand special favors that he had done nothing to merit.
I love this particular passage from Nehemiah…especially how the king’s cupbearer is so humble and faithful. He admits that he and his people have disobeyed God. He acknowledges that by all rights, God should scatter them to the four winds for their unfaithfulness, just as He promised. But Nehemiah begs God to have mercy on them and reminds Him that He also promised to restore those who repented and obeyed. So with a humble heart – and as a lowly cupbearer to the King – Nehemiah asks God to bless Him as he asks a favor of his earthly master.
I wonder…how often do we humble ourselves before God? When was the last time we asked God for something…and began our request by apologizing for – and acknowledging – our sins? It’s pretty much the job of 3-year-olds to be jealous and self-centered…to expect others to cater to their every whim. But are we like these toddlers in our relationship with our Heavenly Father? Do we expect God to spoil us rotten and do whatever we please, even when we misbehave and sin?
Isn’t it time we began to recognize the power and sovereignty of God…as well as His amazing grace and mercy? He doesn’t have to love us. He certainly doesn’t have to hear our prayers – much less answer them. And yet, when we call on His name, God is there…every time…without fail.
Some days, our words, thoughts and actions are such that we are not even so much as a lowly cupbearer in God’s sight. And still He loves us. When you think about this, does it change how you approach God with your daily list of worries, burdens and requests? Don’t you think it should?
Isn’t it time to grow up…and lay down our immature attitudes about our relationship with God? Are you ready to become like a humble cupbearer to the King of Kings? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
O Lord, please hear my prayer! Heed the prayers of those of us who delight to honor you. Please help me now as I go in and ask the king for a great favor—put it into his heart to be kind to me.” (I was the king’s cupbearer.)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I’ve had to laugh lately at our little nephew, Nathan. Since September, he has stayed with us a couple of days each week while his parents work…and to put it mildly, the kid thinks he “owns the joint!” So when Timothy and Zola joined him this week for the day, Nathan did not take too kindly to sharing his space – or us – with his older siblings. This kid knows no fear about asking for things…and he is so darned cute that it’s hard to fuss at him when he hollers from my office, “I need ‘shocklit’ milk!” and expects it to magically appear in a sippy cup for him as he sits and watches YouTube videos!
Suddenly, the chair in which Nathan sits became “my chair” if his sibs looked at it crossways. As we read books while sitting on the couch – Nathan on one side and Zola on the other – he was none too happy when Zola wrapped her arms across my body. How dare she claim even my mid-section as “hers!” And when Zola’s hand brushed Nathan’s arm, he went into orbit! By the end of the day, there had been a few tantrums, as one frustrated 3-year-old boy tried to claim his “territory” and demand special favors that he had done nothing to merit.
I love this particular passage from Nehemiah…especially how the king’s cupbearer is so humble and faithful. He admits that he and his people have disobeyed God. He acknowledges that by all rights, God should scatter them to the four winds for their unfaithfulness, just as He promised. But Nehemiah begs God to have mercy on them and reminds Him that He also promised to restore those who repented and obeyed. So with a humble heart – and as a lowly cupbearer to the King – Nehemiah asks God to bless Him as he asks a favor of his earthly master.
I wonder…how often do we humble ourselves before God? When was the last time we asked God for something…and began our request by apologizing for – and acknowledging – our sins? It’s pretty much the job of 3-year-olds to be jealous and self-centered…to expect others to cater to their every whim. But are we like these toddlers in our relationship with our Heavenly Father? Do we expect God to spoil us rotten and do whatever we please, even when we misbehave and sin?
Isn’t it time we began to recognize the power and sovereignty of God…as well as His amazing grace and mercy? He doesn’t have to love us. He certainly doesn’t have to hear our prayers – much less answer them. And yet, when we call on His name, God is there…every time…without fail.
Some days, our words, thoughts and actions are such that we are not even so much as a lowly cupbearer in God’s sight. And still He loves us. When you think about this, does it change how you approach God with your daily list of worries, burdens and requests? Don’t you think it should?
Isn’t it time to grow up…and lay down our immature attitudes about our relationship with God? Are you ready to become like a humble cupbearer to the King of Kings? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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