“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’” (John 21:15).
Do We Love the Lord More Than Our Kinsmen? If we do, we will not let them keep us from obeying the gospel. We will be willing to leave the religion they have accepted if it is proven wrong. We will not let them keep us from attending the services of the Lord’s church. Remember, Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).
Do We Love the Lord More Than Money? If we do, we will not make the heaping of riches the chief object of our living. We will give liberally of our means to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1–5). Remember, the Lord said, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Do We Love the Lord More Than Pleasure? If we do, we will not engage in that which is forbidden or that which will hurt our influence for Christ. Remember, the Lord, in speaking of perilous times, said men shall be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1–4).
Do We Love the Lord More Than the Praise of Men? If we do, we will be willing to stand for the Lord and the right, though we must stand alone (2 Timothy 4:16–17). The chief rulers “did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42–43).
The Lord should be the supreme object of our affection (Matthew 22:37). May we learn to sing, and mean it, “More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!”
