John 21:15-25
Do you love Jesus? Do you love Jesus? DO YOU LOVE JESUS? The scene here in John 21 kind of reminds me of a coach's half time motivational speech. Three times Jesus hits Peter with "do you love me?" It's pretty clear that Jesus wants Peter's full and complete attention, dedication and efforts (He wants that from us too, BTW).
I hear people say all the time "so and so is really on fire for the Lord." (My response to that is "Amen!") But what does being on fire for the Lord look like? And what does it mean for you and me specifically? Now this will look different from person to person depending on your personality and gifting. So what are you doing (or what could you start doing) that would prompt someone to say "Wow, (fill in your name here) is really on fire for the Lord!" ? Tami W.
Well, being on fire according to this is tending sheep, feeding sheep. In James it's also mentioned that true religion is taking care of the widows and orphans. So if we truly love Christ, if we are on fire for Christ we will take care of those he loves. It almost seems as if not much else matters. He desires so much for us to love others, and by loving others we are loving Him. Love, love, love he says, take care of those that are having a hard time taking care of themselves.
Sometimes, and maybe most times others may not see this love in action, so it's not about others saying wow she is on fire for Christ, it's all about our heart and what God sees.
Being on fire is when we as believers are on a spiritual high. You can talk to people about Jesus without fear of rejection, you invite people to church, you give a lending hand, and nothing seems to bring you down. I have personally experienced this but then the daily grind seems to wear it down and I forget to talk to people about Jesus, invite them to church, or help out. Reading my bible daily has sure helped maintain that high. I think people could start saying that I am really on fire for Christ if I were to pray more whole heartedly instead of sometimes rushing through my prayers. I will start that Today!
To be on fire for the Lord you have to make Him your Lord and not just your Savior. I get passionate about what He is passionate about, meeting needs. I take (and encourage others around me to do the same)15 minutes a day to inconvience myself to be a blessing to someone else. Usually it ends up being longer. I also invite neighbors I don't know (living on a army post lends a steady supply of new neighbors) over for dinner once a week and call it a Luke 5 party. In Luke 5 Jesus is having dinner with sinners and the religeous folks don't understand it. I think if Jesus were walking around today He wouldn't be at my house congratulating me on my prayer life or Luke 5 parties, He would be sharing a meal with some sinners. I like to think we are hosting these dinners together. When I get down and start having a bad day I immediately start cooking a meal to take to someone or write a encouraging letter to someone. I want the enemy to know that without a doubt, in good times and bad, I am serving my Lord, Jesus Christ. Pour some gas on your fire and go be a blessing today!
I can almost empathize with Peter in this situation. Here he is face to face with his Lord, full of joy because Jesus is truly alive and Jesus goes and throws him a curve ball. He gets asked 3 times if he loves Jesus. Now a few days later, after he receives the promised Holy Spirit, he understands why, but when he is in the middle of it he is standing there with his tongue hanging out and head spinning wondering what in the word is going on here. I know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Personally. I believe I have a strong faith but there are time I feel I have been thrown that curve ball and am standing there with my tongue hanging out and head spinning. So this lesson is an awesome reminder that life is going to have curve balls but Jesus see through with the Holy Spirit, and just what I needed to hear today.
I like your analogy of a coach's speech, Tami. I am a fitness trainer and wellness coach candidate. Coaching is a good thing. Being on fire for God is doing everything we can to live a life that pleases God. We don't always have time and energy to be involved in various church events. However, we can certainly do our best to live our life as Jesus would want us to. We can be an example to others and show them Jesus love.
This is my first time reading the comments posted by readers of powered by four. I think about the testimonies of others about who God is and i being a christian struggles with even spending timein the prescence of God or reading his word. I can honestly say i dont know exactly where i am in God, but i need him in my life and i need to know without a shadow of a doubt that when he comes i will go to be with him, please remember me in your prayers. Tami, condolences to you and your family. God bless.
Dian,
I read your comment and have some thoughts I'd like to pass on to you.
It's important to have the assurance of your salvation. If you don't, Satan will use your doubts to keep you from growing in your spiritual life and serving God.
So how do we gain assurance? Begin by realizing it's possible to have such assurance. The apostle John writes in 1 John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (italics mine). If you believe Satan's lie that "you can never know," you'll struggle with this till the day you die. That doesn't mean you aren't saved, but you'll miss out on the joy of knowing you are saved.
Secondly, take your stand on God's Word, not your feelings. All of us have days when we don't "feel" like Christians. And the more we rely on our feelings, the more often that Satan (who is a master at manipulating our emotions) will make sure we feel that way. But John 1:12 says, " But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right [power, authority] to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." You have to decide who you're going to believe--your feelings or your Bible.
If you can't pinpoint a time when you deliberately chose to make Christ your Savior, that doesn't mean you aren't saved. But if Satan is using that to cause you to doubt your salvation, then deal with it. Make that decision today and then record it in your Bible or someplace else where you can find it again. Nail it down--and when Satan tries to question your salvation, show him the nail.
Perhaps you have asked Christ to be your Savior, but you have returned to your old habits and ways. Sin in the life of a Christian will give Satan a foothold to cause you to doubt your salvation. If that's your situation, then go back to square one. Recommit your life to Christ and record it as above. Then keep 1 John 1:9 handy (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.) Don't expect perfection, just progress. When you sin, confess it, forsake it and let Christ cleanse you. Keep track of the changes that occur once you become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Keeping a spiritual journal is helpful.
Choose to become involved in a church family where the Bible is held in high esteem and taught regularly from the pulpit. Find fellowship with other believers both socially and in the study of God's Word. Develop the habit of personal Bible reading/study and prayer. And if this all sounds like a lot of work, it is. While salvation is free, everything else takes effort. But in the end, the peace and assurance you will have makes it all worthwhile.
Allen, Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible