Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 7:53 am.
Well, O my Father—O Father of mine? Thanks for the uplift! So? How did You do it? How do You get me out of these pickles I find myself in? Moments when the monotony of earthly lives gets to me to the point of despair. Moments when the word “love” gets me ill. What shows my shamelessly begging for attention? My forever, “If you love me, why don’t you call or come to visit me?”
“I love you!” “Because I love you.” “Do you love me?” To think now how Yahushua asked the question to Peter three times, makes me understand why? Father? I think I understand, but! I am not sure I do. Are You or have You asked me the same question three times? I wonder. Let me read it again,
John 21:15-19 AMPC+
When they had eaten, Yahushua said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do–with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.
He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Master, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Yahushua said to him, Feed My sheep.
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.
