Jesus, Peter, and the love question you must answer in 2025 There is an important and very fundamental question our Lord Jesus Christ asked Peter during his earthly ministry which I believe is critical and particularly relevant for us to examine today as believers and also answer as we journey ahead in this New Year. It is …
Jesus, Peter, and the love question you must answer in 2025
There is an important and very fundamental question our Lord Jesus Christ asked Peter during his earthly ministry which I believe is critical and particularly relevant for us to examine today as believers and also answer as we journey ahead in this New Year.
It is a love question you and I must address in our Christian race if we are truly serious about our relationship with God, if we are actually genuine about our dedication and devotion to Him and if our commitment to His service will remain unwavering.
We see this all-important question in John 21: 15-17.
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, loveth thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
The persistence of our Lord Jesus Christ in asking Peter the same question three times was deliberate and intentional. He wanted him to seriously consider his response very well before uttering it. Do you know why? The question was not one to answer just anyhow because of the responsibilities involved. It’s a loaded question any true follower of Christ must also seriously ponder before answering.
This year, Jesus is also asking you the same question as he asked Peter: “Do you love me?”
Dear Friend, do you love God? Can you give an honest answer to that question in your heart? If you answer you love Him, your love for God will not just be demonstrated by mere words this year.
This 2025, as people of God, our love for Him must not be lip service. It must be shown and demonstrated in our actions and steps. It must be seen in our obedience to God’s commands. It must be seen in our total commitment to His business. It must be seen in our love for what He loves. It must be seen in our winning of souls. It must be demonstrated in our evangelism and efforts to attract unbelievers to God’s kingdom.
In the gospels, the Bible records the story of a lawyer, a Pharisee, who went to Jesus to ask Him a key question bothering his heart. He wanted to hear from the mouth of Jesus the most important of all the commandments. This is how the scriptures tell the story in Matthew 22: 36-39: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Also, love your neighbours as yourself. That was the simple answer Jesus gave him. Do you get that? Love is the summary of all commandments!
God loves soul-winning. The Bible says there is much joy in heaven over a sinner who repents. Commit to soul-winning this Year. Make God happy by populating His kingdom this year and depopulating the kingdom of Satan.
Put God first. Place Him above all else in your life. Identify with Him openly, confidently, and unashamedly. In your family, in your profession and career, among your colleagues, in your community, be proud of Jesus. Love righteousness. Love His words. Love His house. Love His people.
Serve Him with your time, talent,s and treasures with all joy and delight. With your love for Him and His kingdom, all other things you need in life shall be divinely supplied and added to you. (Matt 6:33).
Your love for God must also be demonstrated in your giving. Give your offerings and tithes. Sow your seeds into kingdom projects unto the Lord so you can receive the harvests. What is your budget for kingdom advancement this year? Remember, God will surely owe no man anything.
Your love for God must equally be evident in your love for others, especially in your giving to the poor, the needy, and the less privileged around you, and the orphans and the widows. Do you have a budget for charity? You need one. He who gives to the poor, the Bible says, lends to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17)
As you grow in your love for God this year, you will increase in your knowledge of Him and how well you experience His supernatural power in your life. Your love for God will empower your faith in Him to deliver maximum results for you.
As you love God, He will also anoint you with fresh oil like David, his beloved (Psa. 89:20-24). You receive greater grace, divine strength, and a new anointing to become outstanding and distinguished among those around you and in your world.
Your love for God will also make you indestructible. Just as it happened with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego who prevailed over their detractors, no enemy, power of hell or satanic conspiracy will be able to destroy you or prevail against you as you grow in your love and passion for God this year. The God we serve is a consuming fire. He will surely plead your case and cause and fight your battles this year (Dan 3:1-30, Dan 6:1-28, Heb. 12:29).
Therefore, as you answer the love question by demonstrating your love for God much more than ever before through your actions from now on, be assured that He will reward you for it and honour you even more.
It is written, “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:90. Because of your love for God this year, all things will surely work together for your good to the everlasting praise of His name and glory in your life. (Romans 8:28).
So, don’t delay. Start showcasing your love for God in visible and selfless actions for the advancement of His kingdom this year.
You are blessed and lifted in Jesus name!
