"Did I tell you about the excellent restaurant I ate in the other night?"
Don't you love it when you learn about great things from friends? Whether it is an excellent sale, an excellent restaurant, or an excellent movie, we love hearing it, so we too can experience it. One of my favorite book series is Left Behind. I read it because a co-worker kept insisting how excellent the books were. I had no interest in reading them, but she kept insisting so I tried it. Like the old saying goes, "Try it, you'll like it." And I did!
So why are we so insecure about sharing about Jesus? Talk about EXCELLENT! He is! First Peter 2:9 states, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Did you catch that? We are to PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES of Jesus.
It seems we don't have any problem telling people about the great movie, restaurant or book we just tried. Why not tell them about someONE really great. Who knows, they might just try it...and like it. Jesus is excellent. Who are you telling?
If I were to tell you I wanna be a star, you'd probably not be overly surprised. Our society is filled with folks looking for stardom. The problem is, fame today does not come from virtue, courage, patriotism and honor as it has in years gone by. No, look at the cover of the magazines in the grocery check-out aisle. Today's stars are famous for drug addiction, adultery, self-made adult videos or having multiple children.
However it is Biblical to want to be a star! Really!
Join me over at Titus 2 in Action, where I am a featured contributor every other Wednesday, to find out how you too can become a star!
My heart is full of love and desire for you. So come on down and do what you got to do. You started this fire down in my soul. Don't Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston, 1976
Do you love God? Do you really love God? Do you love God? Those are the questions that Jesus asked Simon-Peter. "Simon, do you love me?" Three times Jesus asked Peter this. Each time Peter said yes. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times?
Some mark the significance of the fact that Peter had denied Jesus three times during Jesus' trial before the Crucifixion. Peter, so full of ego, had said he would lay down his life for Jesus. Now just as Jesus predicted, Peter would deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed to save Peter's own life.
But there is more significance to this story. The Greek language has several words that we translate into love. Phileo is friendship or care, while agape is truly love. Jesus asked Peter the first two times "Do you love (agape) me?" and Peter answered, "Yes, I care (phileo) for you." The third time, Jesus asked if Peter "phileo" cared for him, realizing that was all Peter could offer. Still Jesus charged Peter to take care of his Sheep (his people).
We often exclaim to Jesus, "My heart is full of love and desire for you, So come on down and do what you got to do, You started this fire down in my soul." But we are like Peter, full of ego and gusto, but easily swayed. Jesus accepts us even with our weaknesses, like he did Peter. But Jesus challenges us to change. We ask "Don't leave me this way. I can't survive. I can't stay alive without your love."
Jesus agape loves us. And even when we only phileo care about him, he takes us in our weakness and charges us with our call for his kingdom. We don't have the ability to love like Jesus. But he loves us anyway. And that's a great thing. "Cause only his good loving can set us free!"
Musical Musings: 1. Do you care for (phileo) or love (agape) Jesus? 2. Would people who know you answer the same way you did? Why or why not? 3. Even in our weaknesses, Jesus still has ministry for us. What ministry are you doing to show your phileo and agape for Jesus?
Karaoke: Dear Lord, I want to agape love you! But I am a sinner, and that sin pulls me so many directions, I follow the wrong things, and end up only phileo caring about you. Forgive me. Please start a fire in my soul to make my heart full of love and desire for you, because only you can set me free. Thank you for agape loving me always. In Jesus name, Amen.
Rock On: Read the story of Peter & Jesus in John 21:15-19.
Video of Don't Leave Me This Way. If you receive this post via email, you may visit http://www.chattykelly.com/ to see the video.
