La, La, La, La, La I Can't Hear You

Warriors Arise: October 3, 2020

John 21:15a (NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

What if Jesus were to ask you this question?

Unknowingly, we can place ourselves out of the equation when we see God asking someone else the question, "Do you love me more than these?" Honestly, I don't want to be compared to anyone else. I fall short so many times, I am just trying to be the best me God created me to be, to live as I would think Jesus would live today. I want to release the demonstrative power of God's amazing love to the hurting, desperate, and lost. I want to raise my children to honor God, respect my husband, worship God through leading worship, teaching Sunday school and supporting the body of Christ, honor God with my civil duty of voting as Jesus would vote and serving in my community, and share God's Word in spirit and in truth.

So I ask again, what if Jesus were to ask you this question? Take moment to dwell on this, Jesus asking you. Put your name where Jesus says, "Simon".

"Veridee, daughter of David, do you love Me more than these?"

We all know what came after Simon's response. Jesus is going to give Simon direction with what he is called to do, what Jesus has prepared him to do. Do we avoid the question because we are afraid God will give us direction for what He has called us to do?

If we pretend we didn't hear God ask, __________, "do you love me more than these?" then we can avoid having to answer. If we avoid answering God then we can continue skipping church, overlook the need of those around us, take up space in the pew to get our attendance card punched. If we do not have to demonstrate our desire for a relationship with God then we excuse ourselves from investing in the most important relationship in our lives.

When we refuse to hear God ask, ______________, "do you love me more than these?" we feel no obligation to develop knowledge of God and His ways through reading our Bible, prayer, worship, serving the body of Christ in church and the lost. We do not put ourselves out there to believe God for the miraculous, as we pray for others, and we definitely do not yield or apologize to those we have wronged.

It is a solid question. We need to answer. Our walk with God, the way we are living our life is not a comparison to others, it is a comparison to God's Word. Are you living your life in such a way that others know you love Jesus?

Father, this question, it rattles me. Part of me doesn't want You to ask the question; because I know I fall short. I do not love You as others. Even worse, I know I do not love You as much as I should. I put so many things in front of You. I forsake the gathering together of the body of Christ. People in my church cannot count on me. I know You have equipped me to serve in the church but I have been unwilling to commit to the ministry to which You have called me. You have placed people around me who I am supposed to share Your love, pray for their healing, and encourage them to walk with You. I can't say that I love You more than these. Sometimes the real reason I don't want to go to church is because I know I don't love you like I should. The problem with that being the real reason I don't go to church only makes it worse if I don't go. I need the fellowship of others believers. I need my faith stirred up by the sermon. I need to press in to worship and honor You with all that I am and even the things I should be but have not come into agreement with...Your open arms of mercy, love and grace. I ask for Your forgiveness. I have not loved You as those around me. I have not loved You through serving where You have equipped me, I have not loved You by encouraging other believers, I have not loved You by living my life for You and with You. I ask for Your forgiveness. I pray for a worldwide revival. I ask for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done. I pray Your Spirit would go out and touch the lives of people all over the world, where lives would be changed by Your amazing love. I pray for an understanding of what Jesus did on earth, through the cross, and today to be spread all over the world. I pray we would be a people who can answer the question, "Yes, I love You more than these because I have done what You have created me to do and walk in the fullness of who You have molded me to be" in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.