There
were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter
saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They
went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught
nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the
disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children,
have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on
the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now
they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that
disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon
Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he
was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in
a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred
cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land,
they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith
unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and
drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and
for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them,
Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing
that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and
fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his
disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 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. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst 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. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the
disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper,
and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to
Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that
he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:2-22
KJV
We are absolutely
assured of the love of God for us. How He loves us so much! He went the whole
distance to show us that. His love is unconditional, with no strings attached
because He is Love! If there is one thing we are absolutely assured of, it is
that God loves us!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends. John
15:13 KJV
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 KJV
Paul prayed:
For
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according
to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians
3:14-19 KJV
It’s a prayer for
believers to understand and know the love of God which passes knowledge!
The question to examine
is: how much do you love Him? Jesus said:
Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye
love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of
truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not
leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:12-18 KJV
Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my
Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not
mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:23-24 KJV
Jesus
said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded
forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. John
8:42 KJV
So what does being in
love with Jesus mean?
- Every conscious thought is full of Him. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2 KJV
- You want Him to be the topic of every conversation and every time His Name comes up in conversation you are alert.
- You want to be near Him and know His Presence all the time and any thought of separation brings anxiety and troubles you. You want to be completely one with Him - no less!
- You want to hear Him tell you that He loves you, that you're special to Him - feel the thrill. You want everyone to know that you love Him and are loved by Him!
- You long to know more about Him, to extol His virtues and graces...and do not care to hear bad things said about Him.
- You want to trust Him completely, without reservation, with all the secrets of your heart! You want to place all your confidence in His Word when you cannot feel His literal presence, when it seems He is far from you. When doubts and unbelief step in absolute trust in His Words are essential! You want everyone to know that you love Him and are loved by Him!
- You face persecution, opposition, 'seeming disgrace' and shame without actually realizing it, and it doesn't even bother you! There is a readiness to sacrifice for Love's Sake! And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:40-42 KJV
- You want to be pleasing in all ways to Him. You would never want to do anything that would cause Him sorrow and pain so that you never have to tell Him sorry! You want to give Him of your best - nothing less!
Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love
one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God
dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell
in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen
and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and
he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is
love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is
our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is
not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say,
I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this
commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also. 1 John 4:7-21 KJV
His Love for me caused
Him to do what...? My love for Him should cause me to do what...?
Do something for Love!
Before we can even think about dying for God we need to die to self! Someone
said “You only love Jesus as much as you love the person you love the least.”
Jesus didn't die for you because it was fun
He hung there for love because it had to be done
And despite of the anguish his word was fulfilled
Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will
Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will
(Don Francisco)
And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV
My Jesus, I love
Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the
follies of sin I resign.
My gracious
Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved
Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love Thee
because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my
pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for
wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved
Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love Thee
in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee
as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the
death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved
Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of
glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore
Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with
the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved
Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
(William R Featherston)
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