“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” John 21:15

Do You Love Me More Than These?

The Lord has been bringing this question to my mind quite often lately. “Do you love Me more than these?”—especially when I allow distractions to take my attention during quiet time prayer and/or reading, when I’m about my daily tasks and my reaction isn’t very “godlike,” or when I’m wasting time or money on something excessively meaningless. It’s always a choice, a discipline to practice—loving Jesus with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with all my mind (Luke 10:27). My desire is to love Him with my all, but I have to be deliberate in order for it to become a more natural response or practice.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). I’m learning it has a lot to do with focus, what my eye or mind is set upon. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

I’ve been learning how to quilt. I’m amazed that in order to sew a straight line, you keep your eye focused on the point ahead, not the “foot” of the machine. It really works. When I look away even for a slight second from that point, I’m crooked; but if I keep my eye on point, it’s straight! I know this is the same result in my journey with the Lord. I need to keep my eye and mind on Him, His purpose, His result, His glory.

When my love is fixed on Him, I’m not tripped up by the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1).

I know this to be an ongoing discipline. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Keeping focused on what really matters, the eternal things, needs my full attention. I can’t be lax, or the sin that so easily entangles will rip me off. The Lord uses many things in our lives for our enjoyment that don’t rob our focus of Him. In putting Him first, and our eyes and mind on point, the joy of the journey and love for Him above all falls in order, even when we least expect it, as we navigate life. He meets us with blessing and His presence.

May your love for Him be more than the love for “these.”

Lord, teach us to love You more than anything else, and when we are distracted, gently remind us of Your incredible love for us, so that we truly live loving You more than ‘these’.