Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 21:4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Remember how Mary and the two on the road to Emmaus were prevented from recognizing Jesus? This may be another time like those. In each case, we understand that God has a purpose for the temporary blindness. It makes the revelation of Christ a miraculous expression of love.
You may be in a similar state where you are confused and wondering what you are supposed to do. Jesus may be standing nearby, but you don’t realize He’s there. Take heart. Keep doing what you know to do and wait on the Lord. Keep loving the people God puts in your path regardless of how successful or unsuccessful you think you are. He will show up because He loves you. You are His!!!

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

1 John 3:18-20
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Love in action
John encouraged his readers, his little children, to put love into action. The gnostics, who believed that salvation came through the knowledge of spiritual truth, didn’t believe their deeds were of any significance because their deeds were done in the body, which in their minds, was of the material world and therefore evil. In stark contrast, the true children of God, in whom the Son of God dwelled, are known by their deeds done in the body. When John used the word “truth” he was referring to reality. So as Jesus loves through us, it will be more than just words, loving deeds flow out of the reality of the living, indwelling Son of God.

John had just mentioned that the love of God is revealed through believers laying down their lives in this world and meeting one another’s needs through His supply (v. 17). God is glorified as we express His love in tangible, real generosity and hospitality. God’s love is illustrated in His word to His people in Isaiah 43:4-5 “Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you.” Yes, God spoke to them in words, “I love you,” but they needed Him to be with them and help them. So God didn’t just love them in words, he loved in deed and in truth. He came to be with them and to manifest His presence and power.

A quiet heart
When we put action with our words, the words have meaning and testify to the reality of the truth that Jesus lives in us. Love is the evidence that Jesus lives in us, which means God, who knows every single sin of our entire lives, has totally forgiven every one of them! Living to love with Jesus is the key to a quiet heart.
When John wrote in 1 John 3:19-20, “We will know by this that we are of the truth,” what was the “this”? It’s clear in verse 18: loving in deed and truth. In verse 16, John wrote, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us,” so we conclude that God’s love dwells in us if we love one another as He loved us. In this verse, he wrote that we will know that we are of the truth by two things. First, by the acts of love to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Second, by how we respond to our sin, namely, we trust that there’s no sin that God didn’t know when He justified us through the death and resurrection of His Son. We practice applying the truth we believe about Jesus to our lives daily. In other words, we abide in God’s love.

John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Sometimes we go back to what we did before we met Jesus. Maybe it’s because we don’t know what to do perhaps that’s where Peter was. He didn’t know what to do, so he went back to the thing that he knew – fishing. James and John also had been fishermen, so it made sense for them to join Simon.
Have you ever felt the tug to go back to your old lifestyle? Let’s not think what Simon did was sinful nor faithless. He probably loved fishing and perhaps needed to catch some fish to provide for his family. For whatever reason, God orchestrated a repeat of the events when Simon first met the Lord. Jesus wasn’t finished using Simon Peter, and it would not do for him to go back to his old purpose for living.
Once we embrace that God’s purpose for us is to live to love with Jesus, the Lord will not let us go back to the natural life. He has chosen us for Himself as channels of His love for the rest of our lives. If we do turn back, we will find our nets empty.
Do you feel like going fishing today—returning to an empty life? Be encouraged that the emptiness you experience there means God has something way better for you.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
God moves people as He wishes to accomplish His purposes. On this day, on the sea of Tiberius, God put Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, and John, and two other disciples together in a boat. As we’ll see in the next verse, God gave Peter a desire to go fishing, so the rest joined him.
The target was Peter who had denied Jesus three times. Simon Peter’s story wasn’t over. His story is important because there are many Simon Peters, who have failed Jesus and themselves. They need to see the love of Jesus in an undeniable and personal way that speaks directly to their fears and insecurities.
Today, God may put someone in your path who needs to see Jesus and experience His love and encouragement. You may not know their failures, disappointments, or fears, but Jesus does. He has put them in your path so that they may have a life-changing encounter with the living Lord Jesus Christ.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.
This is now the 5th appearance after Jesus’ resurrection and the 3rd to the disciples. He had told Mary to tell them He would meet them at the Sea of Galilee which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
The fact that Jesus manifested Himself, informs us that He wants to be known. He wants His disciples to know His love and purpose. We are the same way. When we want to be known, we manifest ourselves to the people that we want to know, and that we want to know us.
Don’t you think He still wants to be known? Don’t you think He still wants people to know His love and purpose? That’s why He manifested Himself to His disciples and to you. He will manifest His love and purpose in us if we believe He lives and give Him access to our lives. May we abide in Him today and expect Him to show up when and where He wishes. Remember, we are His body!

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com