In his sermon 'Yes Lord, You Know I Love You,' Scott Brown explores John Chapter 21, focusing on the dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter. The sermon highlights Jesus' threefold question to Peter about his love, paralleling Peter's earlier denials. Brown discusses the significance of love and obedience in the Christian faith, stressing that true love for Christ is demonstrated through the care and feeding of His flock, much like Peter's charge to tend to Jesus' sheep. The sermon emphasizes the role of the Word of God as foundational to church life and individual spiritual growth, encouraging believers to teach and share the Word within their communities. It also addresses the unique callings of individual believers and the importance of focusing on one's own spiritual journey rather than comparing oneself to others. The sermon concludes with a call for personal reflection on one's love for Christ and the importance of restoration and service in the Christian life.

Chapter 21, we're going to begin in verse 15, and we'll read through verse 25. Hear the word of inerrant words, sufficient words of God. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, "'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to him, "'Feed my lambs.' He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? He said to him, yes Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, tend my sheep.

He said to him the third time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.

Most assuredly I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This he spoke signifying what death he would glorify God. And when he had spoken this he said to him follow me then Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following who also had leaned on his breast at the supper and said Lord Who is the one who betrays you? Peter seeing him said to Jesus, but Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him, if I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?

Follow me. Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die. But if I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? Let's pray.

Father, we thank you for these testimonies of your grace. We pray that you would come in this place, that you would confirm our love for you, that you would grow our love for you, that you would grow our love for you, that you would reveal these things to us so that we might be saved, that we might be sanctified. Amen. Well as you can see we're at the end of the Gospel of John, but not quite at the end. Next Sunday I do plan to summarize the book of John.

We've been in this Gospel since 2016, the end of 2016. We're going to finish it before the end of 2020. It's very interesting, you know, when you're preaching through a book of the Bible, you recognize that God changes the church when you preach through a book of scripture. And it's also very interesting, if you meet people here and you ask them, when did you come, when did you first come here? They say, oh well, it was in Isaiah like 32.

It was, no, no, it was in Matthew seven. It was in, you know, Nehemiah. People kind of calculate the time that they came here from the place that we were in the Word of God. The Word of God is central, it's the most powerful thing in our lives and the Word of God always changes a church. And so I've been grateful that we've been in this marvelous gospel.

It's been very thrilling to be here. So this text, these words Document a personal conversation that the Lord Jesus Christ had with Peter, you know imagine that imagine having a personal conversation With the Lord Jesus and he asks you the most important question The most convicting the most heart-searching question he could possibly ask anybody really frankly could possibly ask he asked do you love me so put yourself in Peter's position you know how would it go and this is the question for the people gathered here today at Hope. Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah? And so the passage before us leads us all here today to do a spiritual inventory. Well, all passages of scripture are designed for that aren't they?

But this one particularly dials in to a very very pivotal heart heart-searching question. I don't know if you've ever read the book, Holiness by J.C. Ryle. It's a great book, it's a classic, you should all read it. I think I read it when I was in my early 20s.

I was looking at it again, but in this book, Holiness, He dedicates an entire chapter to this text, to this question, do you love me? In chapter 15 of his book holiness, he writes this, a more important question could not be asked. Life or death, heaven or hell depend on our ability to answer the simple question, do you love Christ? So This is a critical matter. The apostle Paul speaks so tenderly about this and the grace that is extended to those who love Jesus Christ.

In the very, very last verse in the book of Ephesians as the apostle has concluded his admonitions to them, He says this, grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Well that's the question, who love him in sincerity. Now also in this passage, it's very well known, it's the classic restoration text. The restoration of Peter, that's what we find here. And in the storyline that's before us, just a few days before this, the apostle Peter was denying the Lord.

He denied the Lord three times in the presence of witnesses. So he is here now before the Lord again some days later and would would he be rebuked? Would he be corrected as a result of the pressure that he felt and the duplicity that came out in his life when he denied the Lord three times as a result of the fear of man. And we see we see the the heart of Peter here. We've seen it many many times I'll get to that later But what we learn here is that that love isn't primarily demonstrated in boasting about what you're going to do, as Peter often did.

It's not even jumping out of the boat, You know, you can go overboard for Jesus, but the question is do you love him? And I think that's really before us here and all of this takes place On the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee The Lord Jesus Christ has appeared on the beach the the disciples have caught nothing He calls out to them and they have now come to the shoreline and Peter is there. And as you can see, I've divided this passage of scripture into three sections. I'd like us to take them one by one. The first section really is the proof of Peter's love.

It's found in verses 15 through 17. Now the first thing I want us to notice right out of verse 15 is what Jesus called Peter. He called him Simon the son of Jonah. Now why would he call him that? This was the name that was Peter's name when Jesus met him and in John chapter 142 read that Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and Jesus said you will be called Cephas which means rock in other words I'm changing your name in Matthew 16 18 Jesus says I will call you Peter, which means rock.

On this rock, I will build my church. So now, Jesus is calling Peter by his earlier name. That must have been shocking to Peter. Was Jesus just saying, you're out, you've been deposed. The rock has been broken up and is no longer.

Was Peter thinking, have I now lost my place? Does the Lord love me? Perhaps these were the things that were going on in his mind. Does Jesus think you're just shifty old Simon like you were when I met you? Is that what is happening here?

So but the question Simon son of Jonah do you love me more than these? Do you love me more than these? Do you love me more than these? More than what? That's a pretty important question.

What's he talking about? There are several options that actually the language that Jesus uses would give legitimacy to Do you love me more than these boats? Do you love me more than your job and the revenue and all the things that surround your livelihood? Do you love me more than these other disciples? Love me was that what he was meaning or Do you love me more than these other disciples love me?

Was that what he was meaning? Or do you love me more than the fish and the bread that I just cooked for you on the beach? Do you love me more than you love these disciples? So there are different possibilities of what Jesus was asking. Well, here's my view, probably all of the above.

He was asking him the nature of his love. What did he love? Who did he love? I think all the meanings are covered by that. And of course, these questions, these three questions that Jesus asks him obviously correspond to the three times that Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ.

You know, this scene on the beach, there's so many images and throwbacks of what happened previously and this is one of them. And it's very interesting, you know, the word love appears six times in these three verses. And the word love really is the central matter of these verses right here. And the interpretation of the passage hinges on the meaning of that love. Now there are two different words for love that are used here.

The Lord Jesus uses the word agape or agapao and Peter responds with phileo. So Jesus says, do you love me, agape? Peter says, Lord, you know that I love you, phileo. So that's repeated three times. And of course, it's very common that It's claimed that agape love is God's superior kind of love and phileo is an affection of friendship, a little bit lower level of love but love nonetheless.

And often the interpretation of this passage hinges upon that and so it's become very popular for preachers to make a great deal out of these two different meanings. It is possible that there is. The problem in actually accurately handling these words, agape and phileo, is that John uses these words frequently and he uses them in different ways and he actually uses these two terms synonymously so if you want to make a really hard claim that he's talking about two different kinds of love it may be but it may not be for example you know John uses these words as synonyms and interchangeably. I'll just give you a couple of examples. In John 20, John refers to himself as the one whom Jesus loves, agape.

In the very next chapter, just a few minutes later, John refers himself to the one whom Jesus loves, phileo. He uses a different word. And there are other examples like this. When Jesus says the Father loves the Son, in two different places he uses the two different words. In John 3.35, the Father loves the Son, agape.

When Jesus says the Father loves the Son, in John 5.20, he uses the word phileo. So are the terms interchangeable? Most likely they are interchangeable. And so you're not going to hear a sermon of Jesus asking for superior love and Peter offering inferior love. I'm not confident that's the right interpretation but here's what is true.

When the Lord Jesus Christ asks you do you love me? If you're a Christian your answer is gonna be oh Lord I don't love you enough. That's what the Christian does. And so it's very difficult to find a Christian who'll say, yep, I love you, I love you more than love is love. Because We understand the frailty of our love.

We understand the weakness and we understand that it ebbs and flows. And this is our plight as people seeking the Lord. So Again, these questions come only days after Peter was at a fire of coals, where he denied him three times. He denied him first before a young girl, then to guards, then to the servant of the high priest. And it was at a fire of coals That was the context.

And now Jesus has Peter at another fire of coals. These parallels are very remarkable. Here's what we can't miss. We can fail the Lord but he does not cast us aside. That's what's happening here.

This really is the restoration of Peter. The Lord Jesus Christ is clearing up the questions that anyone might have about his denying him three times. And really, you know, Peter really did love the Lord. Let me just say that again. Peter really did love the Lord from the very beginning.

I think Peter gets a bad rap from preachers all the time. You know, when everybody was abandoning Jesus, the Lord Jesus turned to the disciples and said, are you going to leave too? And you remember what Peter said? Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of everlasting life.

Peter loved the Lord. When Jesus was arrested, what did Peter do? He drew his sword to protect his Savior. Peter loved the Lord. After Jesus was arrested, how did Peter get into the courtyard to even get by that fire of Coles?

How did he get there? Well, he followed Jesus, okay? There are these 300 troopers that have Jesus carrying him to the high priest. And they go into the house of the high priest but but somehow the door closes and Peter doesn't get in but John is inside. How did Peter get in?

He got in because he made himself available to get in and he went into the most threatening situation. How dangerous do you think it was for him to go in there? Peter loved the Lord. He loved the Lord from the very beginning. It took tremendous resolve and commitment to Jesus.

Peter was a devoted, loyal, and courageous disciple of Jesus Christ. Who was it that ran to the tomb? Peter. Who was it that jumped out of the boat when he realized Jesus was on the beach? It was Peter.

Peter loved the Lord. And Peter was a man. Peter was imperfect. But I don't believe he was a coward. I don't think we should call people like Peter a coward.

He doesn't demonstrate that very much. Maybe little hints of it from here and there. And also you find, you know, what does the Lord do? He does question him, but he also puts him into service. He puts him into service.

The Lord loves Peter, and Peter loves the Lord, and so he's put into his service. And there are two things which are actually related that the Lord Jesus calls Peter to do. They're right in the text. Feed my sheep, tend my lambs. Those are the two things.

Feeding has to do with literally feeding the flock and almost everyone believes that means feeding the flock the word of God. That's his role in life, to feed the flock the word of God. Tend to tend my sheep, that's actually a broader word. It has to do with the whole range of the care and the feeding of the flock And I think that would include all things relating to the matters of church life that tend to tend to the lambs, the various things that we do, the prayers, the singing, all the things that we do. But the Apostle Peter is called to do these things by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The primary work of a shepherd is to feed the flock. And when we gather together, that's our primary objective here in this church. We have really hardly any other objectives when we gather. The Lord said to Moses, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. That's what the church needs.

The church needs the Word of God. In Deuteronomy 8 where the statement I just quoted was first stated in the Bible, It's in the context of the trials in the wilderness and The Lord the Lord is is saying this he's saying The reason I sent you through the howling wilderness the reason I sent you into that desert Wasteland is so There's a purpose. There's a reason I sent you through the troubles that you're in. And the reason is so that you would learn that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. God and his word will carry you.

God will teach you. He will lead you through the wilderness wasteland. The trials that you are going through right now, Those trials have a purpose. You know what the purpose is? So that you would learn that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

That God is the one who sustains you through the trials. In the prophet Isaiah, I was reading recently, there's this brilliant imagery of men who carry their idols. They're carrying their idols around, and their idols are a burden to them. But then God says, it's not so with you, who are the people of God. You don't carry your idols, I carry you.

I'm holding you and I'm not a burden to you, I am carrying you. And this is what the word of God does, it carries you through the trials and the tribulations of your life and everybody has them. And what I want more than anything else in this church is that the people would have their hope built on nothing less than the word of Jesus Christ. That this is what sustains this church. It certainly is not going to be the fellowship.

It certainly is not going to be any person, but it's going to be the word of God. And we do need revival. We need revival in our church. We need it in our hearts. We need it in our land.

But a revival really isn't worth anything unless it's founded upon love for the Word of God. That's really how revivals happen, is that people love God and his word, they respond, they can't get enough of it. And the churches fill because people can't get enough of it. That's a sign of a revival. And so the Word of God is what Peter is charged to deliver, to feed his lambs.

You know, the apostle Peter, of course, was learning from the Lord Jesus Christ when 30 years later, when he would write First Peter and Second Peter, he would write in First Peter 2, 4, as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." And in that same letter Peter would address church elders and he would repeat the Lord's words to him on that beach near that fire and he would say, shepherd the flock of God who is among you as he was speaking to those who were scattered, to the elders particularly that they would be shepherds of the flock of God. But the Lord Jesus Christ continues to press Peter back to this most important matter, and it's the matter of love. And The greatest reading on the thermometer of your love for God is your obedience to God. And I think that's what the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to Peter, and particularly his obeying the command to feed and tend the sheep. And for Peter, love for Jesus Christ and caring for the sheep is hardwired.

It is in this text. If you love Christ, you will love the sheep and you will do your duty before the sheep." So Peter is charged here to feed and attend the lambs which really defines the heart and soul of really any any local church and the purpose of it. So the primary meaning of this admonition to Peter is for the Apostles and for pastors and I think we should just make it very clear, you know, pastors are not hired to make the church grow, pastors are hired to speak the truth of God and to pray, those two things. And they have really have very little else to do. They have very little calling beyond that.

And being charged to bring regular biblical teaching. We do that through sequential exposition of the books of the Bible, and that'll be our continued pattern. But what's the application here? Is there a broader application? Are the words of Jesus to Peter just exclusively applicable for those who are pastors?

Now, and I would say yes that's the primary meaning, but God also has given all of his people some responsibility to feed one another the word of God. And I just want us to remind us of that. Husbands are charged to wash their wives in the water of the word. Husbands are charged by God to be shepherds of their wives in that sense. Is that something that you are doing with urgency and with completeness?

Parents are to be teachers of their little flocks, feeding them and literally bringing them up, bringing them up through through feeding of the Word of God and the training and the admonition of the Lord. Fathers are commanded to tend the flocks and feed their children by instructing them when they sit in the house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up. Older women are commanded to feed the younger women of the church to be teaching them the things of God. And in the Great Commission, all believers are charged by the Lord Jesus Christ to teach all things that I have commanded. So while the primary meaning of this passage really relates to church shepherds, God has relegated to nearly everyone in his family to be a teacher at some level.

And I just want to charge you to ask yourself, Am I being obedient to this charge that God has given me as a parent, as a father, as a husband, as a brother, as a sister, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you teaching? Are you feeding those who are around you? You know we have a marvelous opportunity when we have our fellowship meal afterwards after we have our service here to continue to teach one another in the Lord. It's such a blessed thing.

Now love and obedience is always connected in the Word of God. In John chapter 14 we already studied this, we covered this. In John 14 15 Jesus says, if you love me keep my commandments. Verse 21 in John 14, he who has my commandments and keeps them it is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him. And then Jesus says, if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.

He who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word which you hear is not mine but the Father who sent me." So you have this consistent teaching of Jesus throughout the gospel of John and also it's very very clear in 1st John as well that love for Jesus and obedience to his commands cannot be separated. Love without obedience is an empty lie. That's what John says. He says it's a lie.

Obedience without love is dead. So love and obedience are always tied together in the Bible. And there are many things like this in the Bible. If you've read it, you know what I'm saying. There are just many things that you cannot separate.

You often find people talking about law and grace as if they're somehow separate categories. That you have law, but if you have law, you cannot have grace as if they are mutually exclusive. The Bible doesn't teach that at all. In James, we're called to understand that faith without works is dead. Those are both interdependent.

In Ephesians chapter 415, God calls us to speak the truth in love. So throughout the Bible, you know, God calls to both of these things at the same time. It's also true in the great doctrine of the sovereignty of God. Alongside of human responsibility is God's sovereignty. And What Jesus is making clear to Peter is that you can't separate love and obedience.

If you love me, then tend my lambs, feed my sheep. And how does Peter respond? Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. You know, a couple weeks ago when I was considering giving the sermon, I thought of giving it the title, Yes Lord, Yes Lord, you know that I love you. Well, that's a really important question.

How do you answer that question? You know, for some of you who've grown up in the church, this is all you've ever known. You've grown up in your family, you've grown up in a place where the Word of God was honored, and that's all you've known. And if you're asked this question, do you love me, how do you answer it? You know, it's easy to grow up in a church and you're asked, do you love me?

And you say, well, I don't really have that much problem with the Lord, you know, my friends are here, you know, it's a comfortable church, the people are nice, the food is good, you know, the music is so-so, but do you love him? Do you love Jesus? That's the question. You know, Every young person who grows up in a church has to face that. They have to face the question, is this just my parents' religion or do I love the Lord myself?

Is it in my own heart? And many of you, we have a lot of kids who've grown up in the church here this morning. So what is it for you? Is it kind of so-so? Yeah, you know, it's not like you're opposed to it.

You do believe Jesus is the Son of God. You know, you do believe that God created you, you know, but okay, but there's just not much else beyond that. And so do you love him? Well, let me give you a little shock treatment, you know. In 1st Corinthians 16 22, God says, if any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be anathema it's a very serious question in John 842 Jesus said if God were your father you would love me you know it's easy for some people say well yeah I love God you know I'm a monotheist you know I think God created well Jesus but but Jesus said if God were your father you would love me You know it's easy for some people to say well.

Yeah, I love God. You know I'm a monotheist You know I think God created what Jesus but but Jesus said if God were your father you would love me You would love Jesus by the way you know those of those of you who've witnessed to Muslims and other monotheists that are out there, you just need to make sure it's very clear that you cannot say you love God unless you love the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what Jesus is saying. If God were your father, you would love me. Monotheists aren't necessarily saved unless they love Jesus Christ.

And he's the hinge point. Jesus, or the Lord, the Lord said in John 15, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. And then of course here, the Lord is really telling Peter, if you love me feed my sheep. Love and obedience is the test of salvation. You know if you're wondering, am I really a Christian?

Do I really love him? I'd encourage you to read 1st John. 1st John was written in order to help people know whether they believe. It's a question, it's the right question to ask And it should be asked carefully and seriously. First John will help you ask that question and answer it seriously and thoughtfully.

Well, the second section is really, I think, focuses in on the costs of Peter the cost of Peter's love we saw the proof of Peter's love but now there's the cost of Peter's love and here Jesus reveals Peter's coming persecution the cost of following Jesus Christ literally the outcome of his life and so in verse 18 he says most assuredly I say to you when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wished but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish this he spoke signifying what death he would glorify God and when he had spoken this he said to him follow me. Now notice in verse 18, notice the first words in verse 18. Go ahead and look at it. Most assuredly. John uses this turn of phrase, truly, truly.

It's the same thing, truly, truly I say to you, most assuredly, double truthfully is kind of another way to say it. Most assuredly I say to you this is what's going to happen. Jesus is speaking with perfect precision about the outcome of Peter's life And I don't think we should exempt ourselves from this either because the Lord has spoken precisely about our lives as well. The Bible says it's appointed man wants to die and then to face judgment and that's exactly what will happen. But Jesus is prophesying the kind of death that Peter would die.

This matter of stretching out your hands, It's code for crucifixion. This is what you do when you're being crucified. You stretch out your hands and then you are hung on a cross. Peter was martyred around 68 AD, probably about 30 years after Jesus spoke these words. Peter had 30 years after Jesus said this to him.

Peter would have three decades. Isn't that amazing? Well it's not that amazing because most of you have probably 30, at least 30 more years. Some of you 60, some of you 70, some of you 80 years left in your life. And what will those years be like?

Well, we know what Peter's years were like. Wow, what we're gonna read about some of them when we get to the book of Acts in just a few weeks. But you might you might ask a question of yourself about the coming years. You know what has the Lord prepared you for in the years that he's now given you and what will be the outcome of your life? You still have a life And what will be the outcome of it?

Remember that remarkable story when it was revealed to Hezekiah that he was going to die? And he cried out to God and he said, oh Lord let me live. And God said, I'll give you 15 more years. And when that became known to him he was just struck and one thing he said he said he said the living man the living man will praise you The living man will teach the next generation. That's what was in Hezekiah's mind when he was given 15 more years, that he still had life and he was going to spend his life as a living man declaring the praises of God to the next generation.

He was going to praise God for the remaining years of his life. And when you think about your life ahead, you know, think about what's important to you. Think about what's burning in your soul. What do you want to spend your life doing? You know, what convictions do you feel you should live by in the next 10 years?

What will be your life in the coming years? What do you not want to spend your time doing? What do you want to spend your time doing? What will you do with the money and the resources and the network of people that God has given you? What will you do with the money and the resources and the network of people that God has given you?

What will you do with the local church that God has put you in, the family he's given you, the city, the nation that he put you in, what will you do? Because most likely almost everybody here in this room has 30 years at least like Peter did ahead of him. And our death has been prophesied. It has been appointed for man once to die and then face judgment. So contemplate the prospect of your death.

Peter has been given a window into his death. The Lord Jesus told him what would happen to him. And then the third section. And this third section is very interesting to me because he's really speaking about the personal meaning of Peter's love for Christ. And of course, Jesus is dealing with the rumor that John would not die, but the Lord is going to address the uniqueness of Peter's calling.

And I would just extend that to say, the uniqueness of every person's calling. The apostle Paul said that there are different gifts and there are different effects. And I think that's what Jesus is driving at for Peter. And Peter and John's ministries will be different. Even though when you get to the book of Acts, it's like they're joined at the hip for the first 11 chapters in the book of Acts.

They're always together. It's really remarkable. There's some of the most famous beautiful things happen when Peter and John are together. You know it. Peter and John went to pray.

They met a layman on the way. Well, Peter and John were together all the time. They had a great time. And so, notice what's happening in this text. Peter turns around and he sees John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, following.

You get the movement in the text here? The one who leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, who's the one that betrays you? So John is just, he's a historian, right? And he's in his 80s now, he remembers this moment. And he goes back to this moment where Jesus is saying, I'm going to be betrayed.

And John leans over and says, who is it? Peter's recounting that, you know? And so that's all recorded in John chapter 13. But then Peter sees John, notice the drama of this, and he says, but Lord, what about him? Lord, what about John?

And Jesus said, if I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me. In other words, it doesn't really matter what I'm doing with him. You follow me. This speaks really to the particular calling that God gives various people in his church.

He will use us all in different ways. But if we love him and keep his commandments, he will use us. So Peter wants to know what Jesus is doing with John. I think that Peter's question was actually a wonderful question because I think that Peter and John loved one another and they walked together a lot. And Peter wants to know what about him?

What about my buddy? I don't think there was anything else in that. It was kind of a bold, inappropriate question though, wasn't it, kind of brash. But I do think that it was a tender-hearted kind of question. But Jesus is telling Peter, John is not your problem, you're your problem.

Focus on what you're supposed to do. You know, pay attention to yourself and be the disciple that I've called you to be. That's the message for all of us. You don't need to worry about somebody else's other gifts or somebody else's other effects. But what about you?

This should destroy envy, any kind of envy or covetousness. Covetousness and envy can grow in people's hearts you know well how come I don't have a wife like that you know how come I don't have a child like that How come I'm you know not this how come I'm not that like so and so? And the Lord I think is just telling Peter how to mind his own business and pay attention to himself. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and work with your own hands. That's the apostolic charge.

But here's the reality, okay? God is choreographing your life. Be satisfied with where God has placed you and glorify God in the place that he has you. There's nothing better than you can do. The will of God usually isn't out there.

It's right there in your own heart. It's right there in your own home. It's right there in your work. It's right there in your own home. It's right there in your work.

It's right there in your own church. So don't worry about others. Just do what God wants you to do. It's such a remarkable thing. So do you love him?

That's the most important question. You know David said, you've searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You know my inmost thought. God knows.

God has revealed to himself all the thoughts and the intents of your heart whether you grew up in the church you've been in the church a long time or whether you're just trying to figure it out do you love him you know is the Word of God your medicine Is the Word of God your medicine? Is the Word of God your food? Is it your life as Moses said it would be? What would it take to love him? You would love him if you knew that he washed your sins away.

You would love him if you believed that he set you free from the condemnation of the law. You would love him if you believed that he would supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory. You would you would love him if you believed that he was always leading you to green pastures and still waters. You would love Him if you believed that He raised you to everlasting life. You would love Him if you believed that He would never leave you or forsake you.

You would love Him if you had known him as a comforter. You would love him if you believed that he was bringing you into everlasting joy in heaven. You remember what was said about that woman? He who is forgiven much loves much. How do we know that we love him?

J.C. Ryle gives us a list in chapter 15 in holiness to help us think it through. First, if we love a person we like to think about him. Second, if we love a person we like to hear about him and listen to those who speak of him. Third, if we love a person, we like to read about him and cherish reading one of his letters.

Fourth, if we love a person, we like to please him and we're glad to study his advice and his tastes and his opinions. If we love him, we like his friends. Six, if we love a person we are jealous about his name and honor and we're bothered when he is slandered or ignored. Seventh, If we love a person we like to talk to him and pour out our hearts to him in prayer telling him of our wants and our joys and our sorrows. Eighth, and finally, if we love a person we like to be with him.

And that's a good thing. As David said, in his presence is fullness of joy. At his right hand are pleasures forevermore. So, can a person who sinned grievously be restored? You know the answer already.

The whole doctrine of the patience and the love of God for sinners is revealed right here in these words. Does sin disqualify you forever? Does that moment where the fear of man got ahold of you wipe you out of God's plan? Think again. It wasn't that way with Peter.

Not only that, God appointed him for service. He denied the Lord that one time, but the Lord never denied him. And he restored him to a life of usefulness. Well, I want to quote J.C. Ryle one more time.

Does the debtor in jail love the friend who unexpectedly and undeservedly pays all his debts, supplies him with fresh capital, and takes him into partnership with himself. Does the prisoner of war love the man who at the risk of his own life breaks through the enemy's lines, rescues him and sets him free? Does the drowning sailor love the man who plunges into the sea, dives after him, catches him by the hair of his head, and by a mighty effort saves him from a watery grave? So Jesus asks, do you love me? This is the question of the day.

Do you say I'm not sure? Or do you say, yes Lord, you know that I love you? Let's just take a few minutes to moments to meditate on these things. I'd just like to bring us into a moment of quiet Contemplation before we enter into the Lord's Supper, but first I want to pray father pray that you would move these words deeply within our hearts. That you would move us to love you more or to love you for the first time.

Amen. Let's just meditate for a few moments.