Based on John 21:15-19 (New King James Version)
15 “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.’ 16 He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ 17 He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”
What is love really? I believe that through time, and especially in our era, love has been confused or substituted with other things that are not love. What we see today in general has really nothing to do with Biblical love. And well, if we say that we are believers, then the authority on love for us should be God because the Bible teaches that God is love. So then, if God is love, then He should be the standard so that we can get to understand what love truly is. And so, He should be who we learn from. Otherwise, whatever we learn from the world, or even from other people is not really love, but rather something inferior.
Let’s ask ourselves some questions so we can observe the things that happen today. Is it love to let a person do whatever they want? Is it love trying to please in everything a child or another person? Is spoiling or lack of discipline a sign of love? Is instigating or supporting sin in another person evidence of love? Is not giving someone advice or staying silent before sin love? Is it love to abandon someone in their time of need? Is it an example of love to break apart a family in order to follow personal likes or desires? Can a person love another when they are unfaithful to the person they say they love? Is it love when two people are attracted sexually? Is having sex the way to show love to another person? Is something love when it goes completely against what the God of love teaches?
If we allow ourselves to be guided by the Word of God, nothing of what was mentioned, nor anything similar are examples of love; not in the slightest way. To start, God is the first one that gives us counsel on right and wrong through His Word, so then, instruction is the first example of God’s love. Together with that, the Bible teaches that if God considers you His child, then He will discipline you when you do something wrong, for it is written: 5 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” Hebrews 12:5-8. And why is that? Easy! He desires only what is good for you; not your destruction. Because if He allows you to follow a path of destruction, what will happen? You will be destroyed! So then, God is not in agreement with spoiling, or letting a person do whatever they want, or inciting or supporting sin, or with remaining silent before the sin of another person, or anything like that. And if we see the rest, love has nothing to do with abandoning someone in need, or breaking apart a family for selfish and sinful reasons. Didn’t you promise to be with your wife or husband, no matter what, because of love? What happened with that love promise when you let your career get in the way, or your desire to have more, or when you allowed for that other person to get into your life (because the other person has no obligation whatsoever with your husband or wife)? And what about sex? Sex does not equal love. Sex can simply be a physical attraction, or even entertainment, like it happens most of the time today. It’s like a hobby or a sport. And unfortunately, sexual practices have been perverted, and they call evil good and good evil (interpret as you will).
What is love then? The Bible teaches us this: 4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Love is the most important fruit of the Spirit, which is what helps determine whether a person has the Holy Spirit or not, as it is written: 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. So then, neither going to church, or preaching, or singing in a choir or in a worship band or going to seminary is what determines that you have the Holy Spirit in your life. And if we go further, the Word also shows us this: 1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. So, neither doing spiritual or good things mean that you have love, the fruit that determines the Holy Spirit is in your life. The love of God must be the intent of your heart so that something has value. There are many that have confused neighborly love as a sign of God’s love as well. As an example, I have met many atheists that are more sensitive to pain than the majority of Christians. This should be the order: My love for God is what motivates my love for my neighbor, even for the one that is my enemy.
There is only one thing that has always been God’s goal for us since the beginning: love. The foundation of everything in life, even the foundation of God’s commandments has been, is, and will be love. This is the foundation of everything: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. And this is what the Lord wanted to get to with Peter. Peter admired and respected the Lord (which is good). But, when Peter denied the Lord, that showed that he had still not learned how to love God. Peter was finally able to come to love the Lord through the Holy Spirit, because he even died for his Lord.
So then, do you understand what real love means, and the implications that this love has? If you understand, do you then love those that surround you? But even more importantly, which is what determines your eternal salvation and everything you do: Do you love the Lord? Lord bless! John