Jesus said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me?
— John 21:17
Have you felt the hurt of the Lord to the uncovered quick, the place
where the real sensitiveness of your life is lodged? The devil never
hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there, nothing
goes through to that place but the word of God. “Peter was grieved
because Jesus said unto him the third time. . . .” He was awakening
to the fact that in the real true centre of his personal life he was
devoted to Jesus, and he began to see what the patient questioning
meant. There was not the slightest strand of delusion left in Peter’s
mind, he never could be deluded again. There was no room for
passionate utterance, no room for exhilaration or sentiment. It was a
revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with
amazement he said – “Lord, Thou knowest all things.” Peter began to
see how much he did love Jesus; but he did not say – “Look at this or
that to confirm it.” Peter was beginning to discover to himself how
much he did love the Lord, that there was no one in heaven above or
upon earth beneath beside Jesus Christ; but he did not know it until
the probing, hurting questions of the Lord came. The Lord’s questions
always reveal me to myself.
The patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord
never asks questions until the right time. Rarely, but probably once,
He will get us into a corner where He will hurt us with His
undeviating questions, and we will realize that we do love Him far
more deeply than any profession can ever show.
On this day...
- Genesis 17 - 2024
- Genesis 16 - 2024
- April 15, 2014 - 2014
- You Have the Words of Eternal Life - 2010
- THE INSPIRATION OF SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE - 2009
- THE DEVOTION OF HEARING - 2009
- Nehemiah 9:20 - 2009
- Zechariah 1:12,13 - 2009
- Luke 15:18 - 2009
- Definition of Faith - 2007
November 22, 2009