The Question He Still Asks

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.” John 21:15 NKJV

Jesus is still asking this question to us today. His question reveals His heart and our answer reveals our heart. I find that my view of life stems from that question. My ability to live life to the fullest is also connected to it. I so often want to answer it quickly with an affirmative “Yes!” I want to proclaim it with passion. But it is a question that probes my heart and causes reflection. I wrestled with it yesterday as God revealed to me the ways in which the answer is not always “yes.”

For each of us, the “more than these” is known only to us and God. For me, the question included a list of comparisons that were uncomfortable to perceive but necessary to admit. He became very specific with me as He targeted a list of issues. The conversation went as follows: “Pam, do you love Me more than the gifts I give to you? More than the plans I have for you? More than the significant people in your life? More than your dreams and ambitions? More than the very things that bring you joy? More than your abilities and opportunities? More than your desires and longings? More than those things I can do through you and for you? More than personal happiness and comfort?” Then He put His finger on some deeper issues. “Pam, if everything you hold near and dear were suddenly removed from your life, would your love for Me remain and even grow? If the books, music, and relationships were no longer available to you would you still love Me and find satisfaction in only Me?”

His questions stopped me in my tracks. For I knew then as I know now that my personal dissatisfactions and continual longings for more revealed something in me that is hard to admit but already seen by God. Nothing will change if I bury the truth and fail to be honest. My answer became a prayer of “O, God, help me to love you more than these!” My desire is His delight as we go through another day of growing in my ability to actually do just that.

Father, keep asking me the questions that lead to change. May I no longer fear the truth that leads to freedom and life! Amen.