“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Dear Ones:
There are many facets to our existence. There are many occupations, and concepts, as to how we are to live, and for what purpose. But there is none that rises to the level of the divine command to love God. Why? First of all, because God, who is love, desires only that which is the highest and most holy, that which is most worthy and precious, that which is of greatest blessing, fruitfulness, and fulfillment. Love always desires the best for that which is loved. This is evidenced in the giving of Christ to die for our sins. None has ever been so worthy as Him, and none has paid such a price as He did to demonstrate the essence and objective of love. He would taste death for every man, that every man could know life, His life.
It was the third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples after the crucifixion and resurrection, and it occurred next to the sea of Tiberias. The disciples had chosen to go fishing, and they fished all night, having caught nothing. Upon recognizing that it was Jesus on the shore, they came with their nets full of fish, and partook of a meal which Jesus had prepared. It was at this time that Jesus speaks to Peter concerning the most important thing in his life…love for God. Three times He asks Peter: “Do you love me?” Every time the question went deeper into Peter’s soul and heart. Why does Jesus speak to Peter in this manner, and specifically concerning love for Himself? It is because it is the highest thing, that which is most precious to God, and the means by which God blesses man in greatest measure. It is also the attitude of heart, and power of life, by which He will accomplish His will through Peter.
Peter realizes with every mention of the question, that he has denied that love, that he has failed in loving God, for he denied the Lord three times. It is when he sees that he has NO love, that Jesus stoops to meet him where he is, in order to bring him where he needs to be. Jesus shows him His path, and his purpose, to “feed His sheep.” But it is with the coming of Pentecost, and the realization of the promise of the Father, that the POWER TO love becomes the enablement of Peter to truly love God…by the Spirit. The “path” of love has been given to Peter. Now the POWER of love will fill him.
In the book of Zechariah, we find the Lord speaking to Zerubbabel concerning the task of rebuilding the “house” of God. The path has been laid before him, that for which he is to trust God. It is then that the Lord makes ever so clear the POWER by which that path can be used, and the house built. He speaks to Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT,” saith the Lord. What does this have to do with love? Everything. God is love, and the love of God, that which comes from God, is by the Spirit. It is ONLY as we are filled with the Spirit, walking by the Spirit, that we can truly LOVE God, and others, by the Spirit.
“Love through me, Love of God, There is no love in me, O Fire of love, light Thou the love, that burns perpetually.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad