1) My lack of understanding
This beginning part of the year has been an incredible journey. I have been pushed, pulled, tested, tested and tested some more since the beginning, and through it all, God has helped me stand strong. But as I was reading in John 21 I felt God give me a new perspective. One that I had heard before but I guess never quite grasped. In the first 14 verses it talks about Jesus doing the miracle of providing fish when the disciples had caught none. Then when you move on to verse 15-19 it says,
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
God brought two revelations to me. One I will explain in the next blog and the other, was that I felt God asking me the same questions.
Do you love me? Of course I said yes…but then as I continued throughout my week and would do other things when I knew I should spend time with Him, I just felt him keep asking…Do you really love me? I would say yes…but then think…I really need to prioritize better so I can spend more time with God. And next thing I know my week would be packed with things to do and I wouldn’t have taken any real time to stop and talk with Him. I would read my bible verse for the day on my Bible app and listen partially to a sermon as I ran around the house doing chores; but to be honest, I was never fully listening. Then the other day my friend Steve told me I should watch this video of Benny Hinn at one of his conferences. I decided to watch it and God once again asked me…Do you love me?
2) God’s revelation to me
It all started when I sat awe struck on my couch as I saw Benny Hinn lying on the ground with his head to the floor weeping; and as he laid there you could tell he was taking into context that he was before a mighty God. Over and over he kept saying, “You are holy, you are holy, you are holy…”
God brought a revelation to me as I tried to understand why that man seemed to understand and feel God more than I did. And I felt God say to me, “He has a greater understanding and reverence for who I am. Because he has had a revelation to seek me and who I am. It is no longer a matter of you searching for me to give you something to feel as you go throughout your day, it is an understanding that you serve a powerful God and want to make Him feel something instead. ”
Then I felt it again, “Do you love me?” Are you willing to set your schedule to spend time with me? Are you willing to make me a priority? Now it is nothing to feel condemned over...but how often do we set aside things we want (prayers that need answering, desire to see miracles and wonders, or even our busy schedule) and simple praise God for how Holy he is. Place our face to the floor, arms extended and simply acknowledge the greatness of our creator. And say,
“I Love You.”
How proud God must be when he sees his children coming to Him and just telling him how great He is. The thing I found most interesting though looking back, was how Jesus performs a miracle just before Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.
Interesting isn’t it. How God will many times prove himself to us through answering prayers and providing for us…but in the end, he just wants to know if we love HIM. Not what he does for us…but if we love him so much that we are willing to set our schedules aside and say, “God you are holy, and I choose to take time to be with you and worship you for how great you are. No other reason.”
3) My prayer for you
My prayer for all my blog readers is that you would take the time to stop and ask yourself a simple question. “Do you love God?”…not in the sense of Do you believe God loves you and if you are a believer. Of course he does and of course you are. But do you love him enough to set aside all your plans and hopes for a minute, and stop and worship him because you want to. Because you love Him and you want to show Him by making Him the #1 priority. My promise to you, if you so choose to do this, is that God will not only surpassingly pour back His love on you but he will speak to you and show Himself faithful in every other area of your life.
