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meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus
More bitter than death
Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, her heart a net, and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her.
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What is a fate worse than death? It is the lure of the siren’s song!
For a man it is being torn between God and a goddess. It is the pinnacle of idol worship where the pleasures of the flesh take over and one is given over to both agony and ecstasy.
Make no mistake, this can happen to a woman as well. It is the lure of the Don Juan or the Casanova. It is the temptation of being torn between God and a god.
Do you love Me?
John 21:15-17 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed My lambs,” He told him.
A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ”
Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”
“Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.
Over a second charcoal fire Peter is redeemed. Glory be to God the Father who loves us as His own!
“Peter, do you love Me more [than these]?”
3 times Peter affirms his Lord, and each time he responds with, “Lord, you know I love you,” one more sin of denial is systematically atoned for: finally erased 3 minus 3 = 0.
First: Feed My lambs; Second: Shepherd My sheep; Third: Feed My sheep.
Theologically, this is the affirmation of Peter’s calling. This is when his life took a sharp turn from fisherman to evangelist. It is at this time that he is transformed from an impetuous disciple into “Petra” the rock. Upon rocks like these the church would be built with Jesus as Cornerstone.
