Thoughts for another day

December 13, 2006

Today's verse: Jn. 14:21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: (KJV)

Some days ago, in an office prayer meeting, a colleague who was conducting it asked, ‘do you know why we do not love others?’ and answered, ‘because we do not love God.’ This statement left a deep impression on me. I had always considered that I love God and that I want to do His work: so where was the question of me not loving God.

But then truth is truth…Peter experienced this truth, when Jesus asked Him thrice, Simon son of Jonas, do you love me? (Jn 21:15 ff). In that moment of truth, Peter understood exactly what the Lord told him. At that time, Jesus’ love flowed into Him and that is why the third time, he told the Lord, ‘Lord You know that I love You…’ He was strengthened by Jesus’ love and Jesus knew that Peter was now a reformed man and He could trust him to tend His sheep! Earlier Peter had denied Him despite saying that he would die with Him! So what kind of love did Peter have for Jesus earlier?

Through the message my colleague gave, I came to know the truth: I do not love Him the way He wants me to. That is why the strife within me. That is why I find things not the way they should be, because I want them to be my way, what then is the scope for God in my life? There is bound to be strife because my purposes are not aligned to His. Clearly I don’t have His commandment within me and therefore I do not love Him.

For me as for anyone else it would indeed be worthwhile to take a look deep inside and figure out, do I really love God? Do I keep His commandments? Do I come forth as one He could trust? Then knowing the truth, I need to adhere to His commands and thus be set free. That, my friend, is real freedom. Nothing that happens would matter any more because I know that I am getting to appreciate His ways, acknowledge His work and accept His love. Never grumbling even if everything goes wrong; for God can set the wrong, right! It is only then that I can love; for His love and my acceptance of His command gushes out in the form of love for my fellow human.