He said to him the third time, “…do you love Me?” —John 21:17
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know all things….” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
Afterword from Oswald Chambers today…
Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord. I’m glad the afterword was attached after today’s daily offering from Oswald Chambers. It seems universally true, all the time. Whereas the probing hurting questions come at a time not of our choosing and perhaps once in a lifetime. Your perfect timing, of course, but not something for me to spend much effort considering. The afterword, however, gives plenty to consider and relish every day. Knowing that you are good and you are for me. (and everyone and everything else) is a good background for all my other thoughts. It also needs to be worked in to my spirit to displace previous thinking to the contrary. … That you were not necessarily good and I was floundering on my own, with you looking on, collecting evidence, and getting ready for my judgement. Thank you for your many words and stories that show me otherwise. They’ve been there all along. I’m just seeing them with new eyes now, again.
Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you … plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28 …God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Things like that provide good perspective and background with which to consider all the circumstances that come my way. Please help me remember these things … especially when the circumstances look overwhelming and negative.
It seems you deal with me and bring me to the realization of your love for me and my love for you in different ways. Like yesterday when a log of deadfall from a tree fell out of the sky and landed a few feet from me and my grandson. And many near misses like that in my life. They convince me of the truth of those verses, more and more. So, thank you. I don’t need to figure out all the details. It is good to just know that you are good and you are for me. Help me just remember and soak in that.
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