INTRODUCTION
Imagine if you will, it's after breakfast and Jesus poses a question before you. And with this question, it seems to be a simple question to answer, right?
You may think so but it's a question that puzzles you even after the way Jesus poses this question then what would be your answer? Better yet, how would you answer that question?
Jesus here was letting Simon Peter know that there's a certain love He has and displaying it towards him and to His Church and giving Peter a job to do. There's a type of love we must show because it's no ordinary love but a love that is shown from heart to heart and from mind to mind but a heart of service.
Pray with me for a little while as I call your attention to the title of my message today/tonight that reminded me of an old school song; “I FOUND LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET”. Yes, “I FOUND LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET”.
I.
As we all know, the month of February is known for honoring our Presidents, we honor Black History (although we ought to celebrate Black History 365) and of course we honor the ones we love on St. Valentine's Day.
But in our Scripture lesson today, there's a special kind of love that is displayed; a “bromance” between men. Let me stop and remind you it's nothing sexual about this “bromance” but a love or special ties that bind.
This four-letter word love has many meanings: a profound tender, passionate affection for another person. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. A sexual passion or desire. A person toward whom love is felt; beloved person: sweetheart (used in direct address as a term of endearment affection).
It's the world's twisted concept of love is that if you love me, I'll love you back; I'll love you as long we are cool and I'm cool with you. But that's the Jesus way of love because
He turned it around telling us, "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; as I have loved you also loved you that you also love one another.” John 13:34.
II.
There are four (4) Greek words for the meaning of love:
1) EROS: this is a sexual love or passionate way of showing love. “EROTIC” arrived from this word. This is a love between a man and his wife. Ephesians 5:22 tells us that “Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord.”
2) PHILEO: which means “to have a special interest in someone or something, frequently with focus on close association; having affection for, like, consider someone a friend. The Proverbs writer picked up his mighty pen and wrote, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” Proverbs 17:17.
3) STORAGE: this is a brotherly love, a fondness through familiarity, especially between family members or people who otherwise found themselves together by chance. There was a love and mutual protection among Noah and his wife, their sons and daughters-in- law in Genesis; the love of Jacob for his sons; and the strong “sister love” between Martha and Mary for their brother Lazarus.
4) AGAPE: this is the strongest and more affective type of love than the other three (3) mentioned so far in this message. It is for this love is the everlasting love coming only from God Himself.
III.
Peter probably thought he let Jesus down by denying him three times prior to the Crucifixion. But Peter also knew that Jesus had forgiven him. So, Jesus tested Peter by asking him the searching question, “Do you love me?” three times. Jesus was setting Peter up for service in the Kingdom.
Jesus is asking the very question he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” And let me just go even further, that Peter found love on a two-way street. I believe Peter got lost on his lonely highway.
IV.
As this story implies, we must love God before we can serve Him faithfully. Here are five (5) ways to tell if you really love God and are growing in that love for Him.
1)If we love the Lord, will we long for Personal Communion with Him. The psalmist put it this way, “As the deer pants for streams of waters, so I long for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 When we really love God, we will delight in praising and worshiping him. Our praise and worship will overflow from a heart filled love for God.
2) If we love God, we will love the things he loves. We know what God loves by what he declares in His Word, the Bible. Now, if we love God, we will study his Word through Bible Study and not be a drudgery but in delight.
3) If We love the Lord, We'll Hate what he hates. Just as the Lord's nature becomes our nature, He likes, and dislikes becomes our likes and dislikes. His outlook becomes our outlook. His Word clearly says that he hates sin and if we love Him, we are to also hate sin.
4)If we love the Lord, We will long for His return. Mark 2:19, Jesus describe Himself as the Bridegroom and the Church—the body of believers is the Bride according to Ephesians 5:23-29. If you love the Lord, we are to look for Jesus' return, soon!
5)If we love the Lord, we are to keep his Commandments. “If you love me, obey my commandments” John 14:15. These were the words Jesus echoes to all of mankind. Be mindful, this does not mean that you will never sin. Though it is impossible for any of us who love God to go on an endless course of sin, it is quite possible to fall into individual sins. But if we love God, we repent of those sins and seek His forgiveness, and our lifestyle will conform to the truths we find in His Word.
CONCLUSION
Peter found love on that two-way street of life although he thought he disappointed Jesus after His Crucifixion but in spite of it all, Jesus still loved him.
Like Peter, do you feel that you don't feel God's love? Do you feel like you let God down?
Rest a sure, he loves you just the way you are. In fact, He loves you so much, that He gave his only begotten Son to die for you. AMEN.
