And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:7
When Are We Loved The Most?
When did Jesus love Simon Peter the most?
When Jesus met him as a fisherman?
When Peter answered correctly, "You are the Christ"?
When Jesus told him, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"?
When Jesus told him, "He would build the church upon him"?
When Peter denied Jesus three times in his time of abandonment?
When Jesus restored him on the seashore?
When Peter stood before the crowds and preached that Jesus was the Messiah?
He loved Peter before he fell and when he was trying to stand on his own.
He loved Peter when he failed.
He loved Peter when he stood, led many to know Him, and spread the most fantastic news on earth.
It is the same as you and me.
He loves us, not based on anything we do or don't do.
He loves us based on His love, not our performance.
Because He is Love.
In what ways are you still tying your performance to your value?
How might you be treating others based on your expectations of their performances?
Lord, expose anything that stands between us and Your perfect love. May any lie have Your light destroy the darkness it uses to keep us in bondage. Set us free to loosen the shackles of others You love! Amen