Kenneth W. Hagin
In Jesus' last recorded dialogue with Peter, He asked, " 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' [Peter] said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You' " (John 21:15 NKJV). Each of us can benefit from asking ourselves the same question that Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me more than these?"
When Jesus said "more than these," He could have meant, "Peter, do you love Me more than you love your friends, family, and the disciples?" Or Jesus might have meant, "Do you love Me more than you love these boats, fishing nets, and your profession?"
Peter went back to fishing for fish rather than for men. He and the other disciples were out all night on the boat but didn't catch anything. So Jesus could have meant, "Do you love Me enough to give this up so you can follow Me and preach the gospel?"
Do you love Jesus? I'm sure you would immediately answer, "Yes, I love Him!" But when you ask yourself that question, you need to determine what the "more than these" in your life are? The secret of service to Jesus lies in how you answer, "Do you love Jesus more than anything else in the world?"
No matter how much you know, do, talk, or work to show you believe in God—if you don't love Jesus with all your heart, your works count for nothing.
I believe if you really love Jesus, you will follow Him and want to be like Him. And if you're going to be like Him, it will change the way you think, speak, and act. It will change what you do and where you go.
If you love Jesus, remember that He said, "Follow Me." You can't follow your opinions, plans, and desires and still faithfully follow Jesus. It's your responsibility to follow Him wherever He leads you. If you love Him, you will say, "Jesus, I'll go wherever You want me to go. I'll say and do whatever you want me to say and do."
If Jesus looked you in the eyes and asked, "Do you love me more than these?" what would your answer be? Do you love Him more than anything else in the world? Jesus gave His life because of His great love for you. Can you do any less than love Him "more than these"?
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6 Comments on “Loving Jesus More Than Anything Else”
He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
He who loves mother or father more than me is not worthy of me.
He who doesn’t pick up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
This is so good I posted it on Facebook w/my comments.
Yes!
The more I know Him, the more I love Him more than anything and anyone else.
And one of the scribes . . . asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Matt. 12:28 – 31
You filled me with your goodness and now I’m lost in your love.
Make me an instrument of your love o lord. Be my strength and grace to live your life.