Do You Love God?

I have a confession. The following verse gives me some problems; Mark 12:29-30 (KJV) ‘And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.’ You are asking, “So what’s the problem, Tony?” Well, I’ll tell you, since you asked. I can’t do it. I can’t love God like that.

I’m not sure there has ever been a time I’ve loved God with ALL my heart, or any of the other requirements. Let me clarify, I do love God, even more than my wife and kids, and more than anything, but to love Him with ALL my….I don’t think I’ve ever done that. I know I’ve heard people say, “Oh I love the Lord with all my heart.” If we truly did, would we ever sin? Isn’t that why we sin, we don’t love God ENOUGH?

I’m often brought to the passage in John chapter 21. In this chapter, Peter and some of the others have gone back to the ‘old’ ways; fishing. Jesus appears on the shore with dinner made. In the midst of a dinner conversation Jesus asks Peter “Do You Love Me?” three times. In most versions (i.e. translations) it appears as if Jesus is saying the same thing, every time. He doesn’t.

The first two questions of Peter’s love for Christ is, agape. Agape is the Greek word for love, but not ordinary, everyday love. No, this is the BIG love, the one God has; unconditional, unyielding, unfading, unstoppable love. This is the kind that God has for us. This is the kind that sends His only son to die for us. Jesus was saying, ‘Peter, can you love me UNCONDITONALLY, with all your heart,…” I think you get the picture. Peter’s response, in the first two instances, were I philo you Jesus. Philo is love, but it is the having a great affection for, kind of love. It is genuine, honest, real love, just not ALL in ALL.

Interesting, Jesus’ third time in asking for Peter’s declaration was “Peter do you philo me?” Jesus asks for love from Peter, just not more than Peter could do. Did Peter love the Lord? Sure, enough to give his life for Christ. That sounds like Peter loved Jesus, almost with his whole…well you know. So what am I saying? What is the point?

It is for us to strive to the goal of agape(ing) God with all that is within us. We should at least philo Him. I love God, and His son Jesus. I love them more than anything I can think of or know of. But I don’t love them like they love me. No, I fall very short of ALL. But, I wonder, where do I fall? Am I at 50%, 75%, 25%, or what. I’m not sure, and it probably varies from moment to moment. What sustains me and keeps me feeling blessed is the fact that Jesus can say that He loves me with all His Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength, and proved it on a hill called Calvary.