Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The Love Of Jesus Compels, The Power Of The Spirit Enables

My Utmost For His Highest
 
He said to him the third time, "…do you love Me?" —John 21:17
 
“Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus […] It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know all things….” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.” CHAMBERS
 
(Corinthians 5:14-15) “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again”
 
Acknowledging our love for Jesus is the first step. When Jesus responded to Peter’s “yes”, He told Peter to feed His sheep.  The truth of the matter was that Peter was incapable of doing that, at that moment.  It was not until Peter, and the rest, were empowered by the Holy Spirit, that Peter would be able to fulfill the Lord’s charge to him.  The Spirit transformed Peter, from an impulsive, self-dependent “wanna-be” to the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  From a man who feared for his life, to a man who stood fearlessly before the very ones who crucified Jesus.
 
The same is true for us.  We say we love Jesus, but until we are empowered by the Spirit, we are incapable of living the way Jesus has showed us.  It is one thing to be sealed by the Spirit .. all Christians are .. permanently … and an entirely different thing to live and walk and serve in the power of the Spirit.  That requires submission to the Spirit and to stop submitting to the flesh.  Jesus asks each of us .. “Do you love me (fill in your name)?  Feed my sheep!”  in other words, “Show Me!”  Walking and serving in the power of the Spirit requires discipline, determination, and focus.  It doesn’t happen just because you would like it to.  You must be purposeful in your faith.  (Zechariah 4:6)  “It’s not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord God of Hosts.”  You cannot be successful in your new life any other way.  ELGIN
 
Charley Elgin

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