The Main Thing...Thursday

I’m going to let the following scriptures from the Amplified Version of the Bible be presented and speak to your heart for this week’s devo’ called The Main Thing

Matthew 22:36-40

Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?]  And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).  This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.  These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

1 John 4:18-19 

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].  We love Him, because He first loved us.

1 John 5:3 

 For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).

I also want to share a song by contemporary artist, Toby Mac. Below are the lyrics to the chorus of that song:

I was made to love you

I was made to find you

I was made just for you

Made to adore you

I was made to love …

And be loved by you

You were here before me

You were waiting on me

And you said you'd keep me

Never would you leave me

I was made to love …

and be loved by you

John 21:15-17 

When they had eaten, Jesus 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, Lord, 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, Lord, 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, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

Quoting Andrew Wommack’s Bible Commentary on these verses:

Note 10 at John 21:15:

 Peter had denied that He knew the Lord three times. Here the Lord asked affirmation of his love three times. The first two times that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Jesus used the Greek word "AGAPAO"; this denotes God's kind of love--a perfect, unselfish love 

(see note 4 at John 13:35). 

Peter replied with the Greek word "PHILEO." This is a much less passionate word, meaning "to be a friend to...i.e. have affection for" (Strong's Concordance).

Jesus was asking, "Peter, do you love Me supremely above all else?" Peter replied, "Lord, You know that I'm Your friend," or "I'm fond of You." The third time Jesus asked Peter this question, Jesus met Peter where he was and used the word PHILEO.

Note 12 at John 21:15: 

Jesus instructed Peter to feed His lambs and sheep 

(John 21:16-17) if he really loved Him. 

True love will produce service. 

Service does not produce true love.

Written by 

K. Hirsch, Dean of Students CBC San Jose, CA

Shared by 

Kathryn Hansen

Here is the song from above

Toby Mac - Made to Love