When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, he used two different words. One refers to brotherly love, and one that is more like charity (a deep and profound love, the love Jesus and God have for all of us, the love that lead to Jesus suffering and dieing for us.). He was asking: Peter, “how deep is your love?” Do you love me enough to suffer all you will be called to suffer for my sake? Do you love me enough to do the works I need you to do in my place? Do you love me enough to choose me in your deepest extremities? Do you love me enough to give all?
Our hardships ask the same question. Do you love me? Will you choose me and remember me? Will you trust me, that I AM working in your life for good? When you hear other accounts will you believe mine? Will you choose me as your standard of truth, what you measure everything else against? When you can’t see the whole picture, will you still believe the part I’ve told you? When Satan bombards you with lies will you trust me still?
How deep is your love?
Worste moments of my life are like Peter’s, when he denied Christ to save himself: the choices I made to please others or times I was so consumed with my own feelings and desires I didn’t even think of Him. Sometimes, our love is not deep, but turning to Him – even at the level of “I’m trying to love you as you love me”- allows us to receive the help to progress to greater love.
What is the thing He is asking of you, that you’re holding back, that is holding YOU back? Your everything, no matter how small, for His everything is all He asks.
What love is He asking you to show for His sake, that maybe isn’t fair in our mortal perspective, that would open you up to greater joy and peace in Him? He asks us to love so we can have what He has, for our sake.
What is the boundary you’ve set with Him that is really the wall you aren’t getting through? What is it hurting?
How can I help you open it up?