Love Is Worth the Risk

Into today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. My name is such a vixen today, I'm sharing a personal hard eight and the word of hope in love is worth the risk. After Fran ended our decade long friendship without explanation. I began slipping back into my old habit of keeping people at arms length. While processing my grief. I pulled a tattered copy of the four loves by CS Lewis off myself.

Lewis makes a powerful observation about love requiring vulnerability. He states there is no safe investment. When a person risks loving. He suggested loving anything will lead to your heart being wrong and possibly broken reading those words changed how I read the account of the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection in the book of John. After Peter had betrayed him. Not once but three times.

Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these after experiencing the sting of betrayal and rejection.

Jesus spoke to Peter with courage, not fear strength, not weakness, selflessness, not desperation. He displayed mercy, not wrath by confirming his willingness to love Scripture reveals the Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time.

Do you love me. But when Jesus asked Peter to prove his love by loving others and following him. He invited all his disciples to risk loving unconditionally. Each of us will have to answer when Jesus asked do you love me our answer will impact how we love others.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from John chapter 21 verses 15 to 19 when they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these. Yes, Lord. He said you know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my lambs again. Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me.

He answered yes Lord you know that I love you. Jesus said, take care of my sheep the third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. Do you love me, he said, Lord, you know all things you know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, follow me. Let's pray. Loving Savior. Please break down every wall that keeps us from being vulnerable so we can love you and others with Spirit empowered courage, compassion, and consistency. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries