Love-sick

Proverbs 8:17-18
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.

In John 21 there is an interesting exchange between Jesus and Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” and three times Peter responds, “You know that I love You.” But that’s not really what was being said.

There were two different words used for love in this dialogue. The first, by Christ, was agape. This is the love that never fails. It’s unconditional, unstoppable, and unwavering; it’s sacrificial, sanctifying, and saving. This is God’s love, Grace love. Then there was Peter’s word for love: phelio. This love is more of a like than a love. It’s the kind of love that can be associated with good friends or with a specific type of food (in my case, pizza). What we miss in the translation of this very important conversation is that Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” and Peter answers, “You know that I like you.”

Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question was like that of a teen in junior high who was just asked by an admirer, “Do you love me?” Can you remember those awkward moments between boys and girls where he “loves” her but she just “likes” him? (The roles could obviously be reversed.) Peter was just responding truthfully. And just like the relentless, ever pursuing, boy or girl in junior high who “loves” the other person, Jesus is in relentless pursuit of the one who only “likes” Him.

While we’re still thinking about the love-sick junior high kid, let’s look at some of the other things that he or she would do. I know, from personal experience, that a love-sick teen will shower the person of their affection with gifts of all kinds. Teddy bears, cards, flowers, clothes, concert tickets; you name it, they’ll buy it. Why? Because there is a desire to show the other person just how much they are loved. In the love-sick teen’s mind the other person is flawless; they can do no wrong. Anyone who slanders or speaks badly of their love, that is, the person, will suffer great wrath.

The word love in this proverb can mean both definitions. This is interesting because a lot of times we’re taught that God loves those who love Him, which is just a simple misinterpretation of scripture. The truth is, however, that God loves those who like Him. God goes even further in that He chooses to love those who actually hate Him (Matthew 5:44)! This is what grace is all about.

So are we to believe that God is like a love-sick teen? Yes! He [Jesus] is absolutely delighted with us (Proverbs 8:31). He is so much in love with us that He died in our place. He bore our sickness, curses, anxieties, sins, and punishment so that we could be free. He, through His perfect sacrifice, has made us righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21); He has given us honor. He has blessed us with riches through His grace. Jesus loves us more than we could possibly imagine. He loves us even though truthfully we may only like Him. He loves us even though we may actually hate Him. This is why He went to the cross, so that we would know how much He loves us. It’s not until we realize how much God loves us that we can possibly begin to love Him.

So whether you are madly in love with Jesus or you just simply like Him, He’s in pursuit of your heart. He has with Him riches and everlasting righteousness for you. His death on the cross brings honor to your name. His riches for you will endure all of your shortcomings, your flaws, and your “issues”; He sees past all of that to the you who is sanctified by His cross.