“Do you love me?”  The words probably haunted Peter on the beach that day. And, frankly, I hear the hesitation and humility in his voice when he answered. The man who would have once answered quickly with self-assurance simply says, “You know, Lord.”

Maybe Peter isn’t the only one getting asked that question today.

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.’” Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)

Even as we read this, some of us are forming arguments in our minds to defend our works and busyness, and preparing to offer a definition of love that accomodates where we’re living today. But in the end, we will offer no excuses, no rationalizations, nor will we explain the original meaning of the word “love” to Jesus. Maybe it’s not that difficult, anyway. Maybe it’s our pride and self-adulation that makes it that kind of difficult.

“Do you love me?” I think it’s a question I’m going to be asking myself a lot more because nobody can worship God for me, and there is, apparently, no substitute for loving God.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm and is filed under christian living, repentance, worship.