More Than These

John 21: 15-25

 

“Do you love Me more than these?”

Jesus asked this question of Simon Peter. What does He mean by “these”? Pastor Mike explained on Sunday that it could mean the other disciples, or it could mean the fish and the boat— the physical comforts of life.

 

Let’s think through the comforts. We live in comfort, and we rarely venture out into something that makes us uncomfortable. And that extends to the things that we put above God. “Do you love Me more than your cellphone?” How about your car, or your morning coffee? Do you love others more than those things?

 

Missions trips give you firsthand experiences of how people love without all of the comforts of life we experience. In Mozambique, I visited the fields that are now flooded. We watched the women work hard and tirelessly to support their families. When we visited, they gave us more fruit than we could eat in a week to show their love. No matter how little they had, they gave— they loved sacrificially.

 

You don’t have to go far to give. Go out in your local community. Or next time you are on vacation, take a day and serve at the local food bank. Create opportunities to love sacrificially— more than these.