Rich Maffeo on Nostr: Every so often I get to thinking I’m NEVER going to get it right. I’m never going ...
Every so often I get to thinking I’m NEVER going to get it right. I’m never going to love the Lord as I want to love Him. What’s the use in trying?
And then the Holy Spirit reminds me of something He showed me several years ago, and immediately He comforts me and assures me that He not only knows my failures, but He also knows my heart.
I want to share with you what He said to me – and often has to remind me – because there might come a time (or times) that you get to thinking as I sometimes think.
The New Testament writers used two words for “love” – phileo and agape. Phileo carries the idea of tender affection. Agape is often used to describe God's unconditional, merciful, and enduring love – the kind of love He commands us to have for Him and for others.
Toward the end of the 21st chapter of John’s gospel, John records this conversation between Jesus and Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?” He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you.” He said to him, "Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love (phileo) me?” and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (phileo) you.” (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.”
A modern version of the conversation might sound something like this:
“Peter, do you love me with all your heart?”
“Lord, I have great affection for you.”
“Peter, feed My lambs.”
“Peter, do you really, really love me?”
“Lord, I think you are wonderful.”
“Peter, tend My sheep.”
“Peter, do you have great affection for me?”
“Lord, you know I do.”
“Feed My sheep.”
Two things catch my attention in this exchange between the Lord and Peter, as I hope they also catch YOUR attention.
continued in reply
And then the Holy Spirit reminds me of something He showed me several years ago, and immediately He comforts me and assures me that He not only knows my failures, but He also knows my heart.
I want to share with you what He said to me – and often has to remind me – because there might come a time (or times) that you get to thinking as I sometimes think.
The New Testament writers used two words for “love” – phileo and agape. Phileo carries the idea of tender affection. Agape is often used to describe God's unconditional, merciful, and enduring love – the kind of love He commands us to have for Him and for others.
Toward the end of the 21st chapter of John’s gospel, John records this conversation between Jesus and Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?” He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you.” He said to him, "Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love (phileo) me?” and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (phileo) you.” (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.”
A modern version of the conversation might sound something like this:
“Peter, do you love me with all your heart?”
“Lord, I have great affection for you.”
“Peter, feed My lambs.”
“Peter, do you really, really love me?”
“Lord, I think you are wonderful.”
“Peter, tend My sheep.”
“Peter, do you have great affection for me?”
“Lord, you know I do.”
“Feed My sheep.”
Two things catch my attention in this exchange between the Lord and Peter, as I hope they also catch YOUR attention.
continued in reply