2 Samuel 20:1-26; Jeremiah 4:3-31; Galatians 5:10-26
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” John 21:17 NKJV
Peter’s denials grew progressively stronger. First, he denied, then he denied with an oath, then he denied with cursing and swearing (Matt. 26). Here, after the resurrection, the Lord’s call on Peter’s love grew progressively weaker: Do you agapao (sacrificial love) Me more than these? Do you agapao Me (at all)? Do you (at least) phileo (brotherly affection) Me? God’s people may experience each of these three levels of love at some point in their life. Yet, even when it seems that all we can give Him is phileo, His command remains unchanged: “Feed My sheep…follow Me.” —Eunice Free
When our love is but a flickering flame,
He still says, “Come—Go in My name.” —E. Free