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Tag Archives: The Word of God

The Best Way To Love Christ

02 Nov

When Jesus died, so did Peter’s dreams of ever making it right with his Lord. Can you imagine – letting someone down you loved so much and never wanted to disappoint? And so, with the cross came Peter’s final opportunity to have that last conversation, to tell Jesus how very sorry he was for denying him.

And then…the resurrection…a second chance.

So this was the mindset of Simon Peter when Jesus showed up on the shore one day, His third appearance after the resurrection. We don’t know all the details of those previous appearances, but from John 21, it doesn’t seem that Peter has had a chance to talk it all through. And he had likely replayed the denials over and over again in his mind – could’ve…should’ve…would’ve: his constant mantra, again and again. Now, finally, he would have a chance to stop, look Jesus in the eyes and say how sorry he was.

And what did he really want to tell Jesus – he really wanted to affirm his love for his Lord. “I know how this looks,” he would say, “but I really do love You. I really feel so sorry for all that I did.”

And then after breakfast, to Peter’s relief, Jesus approached him.

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.”

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.

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.” John 21:15-17 (ESV)

In this little exchange Peter gets an opportunity to express his heart, and Jesus leads him every part of the way. And that is where it gets interesting. You see, Peter clearly wants to proclaim his love for Christ, and yet it may seem hollow in light of his failure. So Jesus leads him, asking him the question three times, and hearing Peter’s response, telling him, “Feed my sheep (lambs),” two times, and, “Tend my sheep” once.

Love Christ By…

So, for the rest of us, if we want to express our love for Christ, we must shepherd those in our care. Love them by feeding them. One way a mother loves Christ is by feeding her children physically and spiritually. And a Pastor loves Jesus by faithfully giving people the Word of God and caring for their souls. For all Christians given the charge over or the responsibility for others – it is the way we show our love for Jesus. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and as a shepherd, his overriding concern is the care of His sheep.

How We Know This Is True

Aside from this passage, here’s how we instinctively know this is true: Would you like to know perhaps the best way to love me? Love and bless my children. There is not much in this world nearer and dearer to my heart. Bless them and you bless me. Hurt them and you hurt me.

And so, would you like to know the best way to love Jesus?

Feed His sheep.

For Tuesday, November 3: James 1

 

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2015 in Preaching, Shepherding, The Bible, Uncategorized

 

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Carrying a Bible in Your Car? Weirdo.

17 Aug

Years ago, when I led the Single adult ministry at Harvest Bible Chapel, one Friday night a man named Dave showed up at our ministry. He was clearly hurting, and when I found an opportunity to chat with him before the night was out, he told a tale of woe – his fiancée Amy had just broken the engagement, leaving his heart was in tatters.

But when I drew out the story from him, I knew then what my pastoral heart couldn’t say in the moment: he had dodged a bullet. I knew this was the case because Dave related to me some of her words when she broke it off – among other things, she thought he was so “weird for carrying a Bible in his car. Who does that?” She queried.

Well, ahem…Christians…that’s who.

Now, of course you can be a committed believer without a Bible in your car, but that said, it’s perfectly normal for a Christian to carry one around with him. After all, it is the word of God.

But I’m sure that’s not what Amy thought. Surely, she assumed it was a bunch of religious stories…just the word of man…which of course would have made Dave a real weirdo. But Dave wasn’t weird; he was just a Christian.

So Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

We know that one of the marks of a true Christian is a new view of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:16), but going along with this is a brand new view of the Bible. Previously, we thought it was a religious book like all the others out there, but when God gave us the Holy Spirit, something changed, and almost instantaneously, we began to see it differently.

And with a new view of the Scriptures came something else: a hunger for it. We wanted to read it and learn about it and talk about it with others. So I remember coming to Christ at West Point – I had brought a Bible with me from home, not really intended to read it, I don’t think, but supposing that if I needed to bring a book or two, a Bible would be good. But when Jesus got ahold of my life, I couldn’t get enough of it. And to my roommates’ amusement, I began to sleep with it. Talk about a weirdo. That was me.

But then again, maybe I wasn’t so weird after all; for, going to sleep each night, I knew that I had in my arms…a book from God.

For tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18th: 1 Thessalonians 3

 
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Posted by on August 17, 2015 in Uncategorized

 

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3 Ways to “Take Care” in the Most Important Thing

10 Jul

“Take care, then, how you hear.”

Jesus offered this comment after he explained the Parable of the Sower, a lesson about how the Word of God does or does not bear fruit in an individual’s life. Take care, then, how you hear.

So, it’s not enough to hear. We must hear carefully.

Here then, are 3 lessons from this parable to help us to take care to hear the Word well.

1. Pray against the enemy when reading for yourself or sharing the Word of God with another.

“…the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts…” Luke 8:12 (ESV)

There is a reason that Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one.” As the Lord’s prayer suggests (“our daily bread”), every day we should pray this prayer against the enemy of our souls. Lucifer is the one who comes and takes away the seed that otherwise can bear fruit, 30, 60 or 100 fold.

2. Beware of affliction…and affluence.

“…choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life…” Luke 8:14 (ESV)

I believe, as many have said before me, that affluence is the real problem, though affliction will choke the word also. But for every 10 men who can survive trials and trouble, only one can survive a fat bank account. Either way, when either of these come your way, hold fast to the Word.

3. Cultivate patience.

“…they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (emphasis mine) Luke 8:15 (ESV)

When it comes to the Word, patience is paramount. The person who reads God’s book for a week and says, “It hasn’t done anything for me,” will never taste the sweetest fruit that comes from years in the Scriptures. When it comes to sowing the Word in my own heart or the heart of my children or friends, time and persistence wins the day. Keep on keeping on. Stay in the word. There is a special blessing that comes to the man or woman who faithfully spends day after day, year after year…in the Book of books.

 

Here’s something from the archives along these lines for your encouragement: A Highly Motivating and Not-Often Considered Reason to Read and Meditate on Scripture Regularly

 

For Monday, July 13th: Luke 9

 

 
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Posted by on July 10, 2015 in Uncategorized

 

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