Read: John 14:21 |
Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?”
He asked him not one time, but three times. [John 21:15-17] The first two times Jesus posed the question, He used the form of love in Greek, which is agape – self-sacrificial love. The third time He used the form of love in Greek, which is phileo – brotherly love. Peter’s answer to each question was with the phileo form of love. Jesus wanted Peter to realize that his love for Jesus needed to grow from a phileo love to an agape love, which would empower him to serve and “feed His sheep”.
This question in triplicate also applies to us:
- Do you truly love God more than anything else?
- Do you really love Jesus?
- Are you even His friend?
In Matthew 22:37-39, key parts of these questions are embedded as a statement in what Jesus says is the greatest commandment. [Deuteronomy 6:5] He instructed us to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to act on these precepts each day, for they provide a key motive to serving God.
Love should be Seen and Served versus just Spoken
Love is a verb. Love that is only “verbalized” does not demonstrate love. For instance, if we tell our parents that we love them and never demonstrate our love, our statement is empty. In His ministry, Jesus spent each day demonstrating His love and serving others. [John 14:21; 1 John 5:2] We are called to follow His example.
The apostle Paul, in his first letter to Corinth, noted that love is the greatest and most essential of all the spiritual gifts. Even faith is worthless without love! [1 Corinthians 13:1-3]
Our challenge is to love with the right kind of love. If we only love with a phileo love then we have a greater potential to tire or lose commitment. This can occur because once we receive a negative or neutral response to our service, it can drain our love and dedication. This is because when phileo love is not returned, it can fizzle, fail and falter. However, if we serve with an agape love, then we are more likely to persevere because agape love does not require love in return.
In fact, agape love compared to phileo love is like comparing an ocean to a pond. Not much sacrifice is required to cross a pond, but to negotiate an ocean takes submission, sacrifice and commitment. Agape God today, my friend!
Gratitude for what God has done leads to Service
Gratitude is kindling for love. It either sparks what is already present within us or ignites in a new believer’s spirit. When the sinful woman in Luke 7:38 gratefully washed Jesus’ feet with her tear-soaked hair as she poured perfume, her act of gratitude was an expression of her love and an acknowledgment of His Lordship.
Paul urges us in Romans 12:1 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, which is our “reasonable service”. This “reasonable service” is an expression of our gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. In fact, this was part of Paul’s motivation to live for God (Gal. 2:20).
Gratitude initiated by grace leads believers to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). Paul indicated his missionary ministry was an expression of his gratitude to God (1 Tim. 1:12). Peter writes that he expects his readers to adopt godly conduct since they have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Pet. 2:1-3). [“The Christian’s Motivation for Serving God”, Charles C. Bing]
Genuine service cannot be separated from love. We can go through the motions of serving God, but if our hearts are not in it, we are missing the point.
Serving God out of a sense of obligation or duty, apart from love for God, is not what He desires. Rather, serving God should be our natural, agape filled response to Him who loved us first (see 1 John 4:9–11).
Do you remember the song with the refrain,…. “And they will know that we are Christians, by our love, by our love,….” [Jars of Clay, Youtube]
Series Outline with links:
Overview
Motivators
1. Reward – Serve Him for the reward of His fellowship and presence in your life
2. Fear – Serve Him with a reverent fear and respect for His power, presence and protection
3. Duty – Serve Him dutifully; we are called to serve Him
4. Love – Serve with all your heart, soul and mind
5. Joy – Serve Him joyfully; the joy of the Lord is our strength
De-Motivators
1. Temptation and Sin – Cannot serve Him because I’m not “holy” enough
2. Burn-out Part 1 – Cannot serve Him because I’ve lost motivation and energy
3. Burn-out Part 2 – Cannot serve Him because I need to refuel and reload
4. Rationalization – Future – Cannot serve Him because I don’t have the time, talent, treasure necessary
5. Procrastination – Future – Cannot serve Him because I’m not able to find the right opportunity and follow through
Questions:
1. Discover –
A. How do you answer these questions?
- Do you truly love God more than anything else?
- Do you really love Jesus?
- Are you even His friend?
B. Each day as we awake, our job as a believer is to lead people to know the love of Christ and to glory not in ourselves, but Christ. I admit to some days off, but I try. How many days a week do you demonstrate God’s love through your words and deeds.
2. Develop –
A. We can give away only what we’ve first received. The reason we can love and serve God is that He first loved and served us through Jesus Christ. Has your love for God grown or remained the same year after year? Are you happy with your relationship with God and your love for God?
B. Does love motivate you to serve God? If so how much or how little? What is your biggest motivator?
3. Demonstrate –
A. What is the fruit of your motivations to serve God? Share here and with your prayer partner.
B. Is there a disparity between what you profess with your mouth and what you’re doing for the kingdom? What would your prayer partner or spouse say?
