Unfailing Love

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

-John 21:7

In context, Jesus has been resurrected and is appearing to His apostles. The apostles weren't able to catch any fish until they followed Christ's suggestion of casting their net to the right of the boat. Once this was done they caught 153 fish.

Now, in the midst of this miracle, Peter saw that a man was standing at the shore, shouting these orders to the apostles. Once another apostle acknowledged that it was Jesus standing before them, Peter jumped ship to swim and greet Him.

When I read this passage, my heart becomes filled with such joy. Peter, a man not unlike the rest of us, is so excited to see His Savior that he couldn't even wait until the boat reached the shore, he had to jump out and swim as fast as he could towards his Best Friend.

In my mind, the image of the bride, who just caught glimpse of her Beautiful Bridgegroom takes precedence. Overjoyed and overwhelmed with His Majesty and Presence, the bride jumps ship to get closer to Him as fast as she possibly can. What Love!

Do you jump ship at the very sight of your Husband, Father, Lord--just to be in His presence and His arms that much sooner?

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

-John 21:15

...Still

Directly from the prayer book:

I love you, Lord Jesus Christ.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

-2 Peter 1:3-4

We only need knowledge of You, but You do more. You give us promises and a hope. Through these promises we can build a personal relationship with You --The Beginning and the End! We will be able to resist sinful desires only through Christ alone. Not only do You promise us that You love us, You show it. You are entirely amazing, and I never get sick of getting to know You more. I am in awe of your Majesty.

I love You.

Amen.

Undercover

If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

-Romans 8:17b, 18

Greetings and God Bless,

Men and women: I would like to let you know, that no matter what you are doing this Halloween night, Christ loves you. I think that far too many times, we don't let each other know how much we truly love one another. I challenge you, whether it's tonight or any other night, let someone know how much you love them. 

Christ's love is undefinable. Christ loves with no conditions. We love saying "I will love you, but if you do this...or if you thought this way about this...if you have ever done this...well, then I don't know if I could love you." Christ says, "I have loved you with an ever lasting love (Jer 31:3)... But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear... (Matt 10:30, 31a) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13)." 

Christ knows every single thing you have ever thought, He has seen every single thing that you have ever done, and Christ will love you forever, no matter what. Under all circumstances, all appearances, all predicaments.

About an hour ago, I was out trying to find my friend here on campus. I didn't end up finding him, but instead, I found my Best Friend. Everyone got dressed up for tonight's celebrations, which at first made me cringe. However, I realized that everyone gets dressed up, puts on a mask, or paints over his or her face when they feel they need to cover a part of their life, in order to be adored. We get so lost in finding love, that we become foolish. Whether it's dressing up for Halloween, hiding behind our knowledge, or hiding behind our attitudes, we hide because we're afraid. What if just one person reached out, and showed their love for you? Would you stop hiding, and realize that no matter what, Goodness exists? Not only that It exists, but that It wants to love you just as much as you want to love It?

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, 

since love covers a multitude of sins.

-1 Peter 4:8

The Person who sees your every action, your every thought, and knows when you're trying to lie to Him, is He who loves you the most. He tries to talk to you, romance you, embrace you, and inform you everyday. Why refrain from a love so Pure?

We need to remind our brothers and sisters of His perfect love. How? By loving everyone as Christ has loved us. Though our bodies and our minds may fail in understanding and celebrating His true grace, God is the strength of our hearts and our portions forever. (paraphrase of Psalm 73:26) 

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

-1 Peter 1:22, 23