Do You Love Me?

“God has given us the gift of love to understand what true love is”
– Christian.net

Imagine for a moment, being alone, face to face with Jesus Christ. His piercing gaze is directed toward me, and I feel a momentary chill. He says my name, and asks me a question I will never forget, “My Child, Do You Love Me?”

My heart races and I feel my face flush with emotion. I feel the weight of this moment, realizing the importance of the answer.

Reflecting on Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do You Love Me?” can be a powerful reminder of the importance of being honest and sincere in our words and actions. The simplicity of Jesus’ question and Peter’s response holds a powerful truth. By responding with a simple yes or no, Peter was communicating the depth of his commitment and love to Jesus. 

But when Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”, he was asking for more than just a simple yes or no. He was asking for a commitment, a deeper love, and a relationship. He was asking Peter to understand the magnitude of the love that Jesus had for him.

This question is indeed a tremendous challenge. Even if I wanted to, I could not lie and say yes. I must answer the question honestly and from the depths of my soul. As Matthew said, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.”

I do not know if I love Him enough, but I do know that I am willing to surrender all that I am and all that I have to Him. I cannot say that I love Him perfectly, but I will strive to love Him more and more each day. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He loves me and desires a relationship with me.

However, in the book of Matthew, Jesus goes even further in saying that our yes should be yes, and our no should be no. This is not just an instruction to say yes when it is the socially accepted answer at church or in a church community, but to have integrity in all of our words. We should be honest and truthful in all of our words, and if we say yes, then we should follow through with that commitment. 

Matthew 5:37 – English Standard Version
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

We declare, with absolutely no hypocrisy, that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul. We make an oath, a promise to abide in His commands and accept His unconditional and never-ending love. We also affirm that, though we can never be perfect, we are willing to be perfected in Christ and strive to be “Christ-like” in our lives. We accept and embrace His love and strive to show our own love for Him by our actions and words. We love you Lord and are thankful for your love.

If we say “No,” there is no shame in that. We understand that you may not be ready, or you may not have the understanding of what it means to live in Christ. You may not yet believe in Him, or you may be afraid. No matter the reason, there is no shame and no judgement.

But, and yes, there is a but! We want to remind you that God is waiting for you to take that step of faith and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He promises to give you strength and courage if you allow Him to enter your life, and He will never leave you or forsake you. If you feel uncertain or overwhelmed, just pray and ask for His guidance. He will be there for you.

Have you paused to sit in silence and listen for the Lord’s voice? Have you opened His Word and allowed it to speak to your heart and soul? Have you taken the time to pray and ask God to reveal His will for your life?

God speaks to us through His Word and through the people He has placed in our lives. He desires for us to take a few moments out of our busy lives to listen to Him. The Bible is packed with truth and insight, and it can be a source of comfort and guidance.

Have you taken the time to listen to His Word?

His Word is so powerful and life changing. It is the source of strength, hope, and joy. It is the source of direction and guidance. It brings peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.

God’s Word is alive and active, speaking to us in ways that may not be visible or audible, but are real. It is a living and active force that works in us and through us to bring us closer to Him.

Yet so often we fail to take the time to listen to His Word. We may be busy with our daily lives, or we may get caught up in our own thoughts and worries. We may be so distracted that we don’t even realize how much we are missing out on.

But when we do take the time to listen, when we take the time to read the Gospel, when we take the time to listen to a sermon or teaching, when we take the time to get into a community or get connected in a Small Group, a Ministry, or just read posts like we share here with Brothers and Sisters speaking Truth in Love, we are filled with a special kind of peace and joy that only comes from the Lord.

So, take the time to listen to His Word and be blessed by it. His Word is life-changing and will bring you closer to Him.

Every day, you are being prepared and equipped with the tools necessary for success. However, you may not be aware of or open to what is being taught to you. You may not be taking in the information or choosing to ignore it. This could be due to a variety of reasons, but it is important to be aware of the knowledge being offered to you and be open to learning. If you are able to do that, you can maximize your potential and be prepared to face any challenge.

The end times are a topic of much debate and discussion. Many believe that the end is near, but for those of us who do, do we have an unwavering faith that we will be going home? To Heaven?

The Bible says that God does not want any to perish, and that He gives us chances to accept Him. He gives us the free will to choose Him and be saved. He gives us the chance to say yes to Him and to His promises.

God’s judgement is still on its way, but in His mercy, He has provided a delay so that all may repent and turn to Him. We can hear His voice calling us to acknowledge His love and declare, “Yes Lord, I Love You!” This is seen in John 21:15-17, where Jesus questioned the disciples, “Do You Love Me?” and issued a command to them afterwards. It is clear that the same command applies to us today. God is waiting for us to turn to Him in love and devotion.

John 21: 15-17 – English Standard Version
¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Yes, indeed we do want to live in Christ. To do so, however, requires more than just saying “Yes,” it is also about doing for the Lord, serving Him, and making an effort in our daily lives. It means making a sacrifice and putting in the hard work to receive and maintain the things we love and cherish. This could mean dedicating our time to prayer and scripture study. It could mean serving in our church or local community. It could mean sacrificing our own desires for the good of others. It could mean living our lives in a way that brings glory to God and brings us closer to Him. Ultimately, living in Christ requires us to do our best to make Him and His will a priority in our lives.

Say Yes, and make the promise to abide in Him, to let go of the things of this world; to pick up your Cross and Follow Him. This is a commitment that shows your faith and love for the Lord. We are called to be faithful to Him and to put Him first in all things. We must be willing to give up anything for the sake of our faith, for the Lord’s sake. There is no greater love than to lay down our lives for our Lord and Savior. 

Just as the sacrifice Jesus made for us was great, it was also the Price of Salvation. But it was not easy. No one ever said it was. We must be ready to face the challenges in order to benefit from this great gift. But the Price is worth it, and the reward is greater than anything. So, I urge you today, don’t wait until tomorrow – say “Yes” and accept the gift of eternal salvation.

The Gospel Group, The Winans, released a song in 1993 called “Tomorrow.” The lyrics of this powerful song speak to the need for hope in the midst of uncertain times. The chorus of the song is particularly moving and reads: 

“I’ll Give My Life Tomorrow

I Thought About Today

For Tomorrow Very Well Might Be Today.

Tomorrow, Who Promised You Tomorrow

Better Choose The Lord Today,

For Tomorrow Very Well Might Be Today.”

At first, I was hesitant to say, “Yes Lord, I Love You”. I was afraid of being put through any more trials and struggles. I felt weak and vulnerable, as if I couldn’t handle any more of what life had to throw at me. I had already endured so much and felt as if I couldn’t take on any more. But the Lord reminded me that He is with me through everything, and that I can find strength in Him. I can find comfort in His Words and assurance in His love. He encouraged me to accept His love and grace, and I realized that no matter what happened, He would be there to help me get through it. I now understand that I can rely on His strength and courage to get me through any trial. I can say, “Yes Lord, I Love You” with confidence, knowing that He is there with me.

I had spent countless nights questioning myself and my faith, wondering if I could ever be worthy of the Lord’s love. The answer to my question didn’t come until I joined a Hope Group at my church. Here, I learned that the Lord is merciful and loving, and He never gives us more than we can handle.

Learning this truth opened my eyes to the fact that, no matter what I had done, or how I had failed, I was still worthy of Jesus Christ’s agape love. I was humbled by the grace and mercy of the Lord, and I was able to look past my mistakes and shortcomings and accept His love.

The Lord’s love is unconditional, and it is available to anyone who seeks it. No matter how faithful, trusting, and worthy I may feel, I can always take comfort in the fact that I am worthy of Jesus Christ’s agape love.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is one of my favorite Scriptures that I learned in Hope Group. It reads:

1 Corinthians 10:13 – English Standard Version
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

The Scripture provides an important reminder that no matter what we face in life, God will give us the strength and guidance to overcome it. He will never let us face more than we can handle. And no matter how difficult the situation is, He will give us a way out. This Scripture is a source of strength and comfort in times of trial and tribulation. 

He loves us so much that He gave us the greatest gift of all – His only Son. He loves the world, not just certain parts of it. He loves everyone, from the broken and hurting to the lost and grieving. He loves us so much that He gave us the chance to have eternal life if we believe in His Son.

This love is like no other. It is a love that comes from our Heavenly Father, a love that surpasses all understanding. A love that is unconditional, a love that brings hope and joy. A love that brings life and peace.

Do You Love Him Even More?

Will You Feed His Lambs?

Will You Care for His Sheep?

Will You Feed His Sheep?

Yes, Lord, I Willie Torres Love You.

You Are Loved….

Willie Torres Jr.