Do you love Me?

Deuteronomy 6:5

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

When asked about which of the commands of the law was the greatest, Jesus affirms this very command as the Greatest Commandment.  “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:38-40)

Jesus adds the second greatest commandment as a sort of bonus to his opponents’ question.  “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus is explaining, is the way to live out your love for God the Father.  This is the tangible demonstration of your love for the Lord.

Jesus emphasizes this truth in his interaction with Peter following Peter’s denial of Him.  “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.” 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.” 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.” (John 21:15-17)

Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?”  Peter always answers “Yes!” and Jesus always responds with a command to love and care for others.  Here again, Jesus is affirming that the way to love God is to love others in His Name.

Hear today Jesus asking you this very moment, “Do you love Me?”

How will you respond?  With affirmation?  Yes, I hope so.  But not only with affirmation.  I hope you and I will both respond with love in action.  We are called to love and care for other in Jesus’ Name.  We are called to follow Jesus’ example of love by giving our lives to others as an intentional way of pointing them to the Savior.  Take action and possibly even take a risk to show love to someone today.  In doing so, you will also be loving God in a tangible way.