Do You Love the Lord Most?

John 21

Jesus' and Simon Peter's last conversation was the night Judas betrayed Jesus and He was arrested. The last significant conversation had been one where Peter affirmed how much he loved Jesus and would even die for Him. And yet you remember that three times before the cock crowed that evening, Simon Peter had denied even knowing Jesus.

It is after the Resurrection and after a night of fishing without catching anything that the disciples encounter Jesus here in John 21. And Jesus and Peter walk down the beach together and Jesus says, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" And just as Peter had denied Jesus 3 times, Jesus asks him 3 times.

Near the end of the conversation Jesus tells Peter that His full surrender to service will ultimately cost him his life. Peter will die serving the Lord. So let me suggest you ask yourself the questions that Jesus asked Peter. How much do you really love the Lord? Have you surrendered fully to Him? Sometimes our service to the Lord is quite costly. Are we willing to follow Him no matter what the consequences.