Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 7
Saturday


TURKISH
DELIGHT

READ:
John 21:15-19
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In C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the White witch needed to know only one thing about Edmund to get him to betray his siblings. By asking a few simple questions, the witch learned that Edmund's weakness was his love for a candy called Turkish Delight. The piece she gave to Edmund was more delicious than anything he had ever tasted. Soon Edmund could think only about "trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted."

Each of us has a vulnerability like Edmund's that Satan is eager to exploit. It may be something addictive like drugs or alcohol, or it may be something seemingly harmless and perhaps even good like food friendship, or work.

After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter this personal and probing question: "Do you love Me more than these?" (John 21:15). Many have speculated as to what Jesus meant by the word "these," but it's probably better that we don't know. It allows each of us to personalize the question and ask ourselves, "What do I love more than Jesus?"

When Satan finds out what we love more than God, he knows how to manipulate us. But he loses his power over us when we delight in the Lord. __Julie Ackerman Link
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```````````I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me,```````````
````````````And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;````````````
``````````I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;```````````
````````If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. __Featherstone```````
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God takes delight in us__
how can we help but delight in Him!

**************Today's Bible Reading __ John 21:15-19*************

15 So when they had eaten
breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, "Simon, son
of Jonah, do you love Me
more than these?"

He said to Him, "Yes,
Lord; You know that I love
You."

He said to him, "Feed My
lambs."

16 He said to him, again a
second time, "Simon, son
of Jonah, do you love Me?"

He said to Him, "Yes,
Lord; You know that I love
You."

He said to him, "Tend My
sheep."

17 He said to him the third
time, "Simon, son of Jonah,
do you love Me?

Peter was
grieved becausse He said to
him the third time, "Do you
love Me?"

And he said to Him,
"Lord, You know all things;
You know that I love You."

Jesus said to him, "Feed
My sheep, 18 Most
assuredly, I say to you,
when you were younger,
you girded yourself and
walked where you wished;
but when you are old, you
will stretch out your hands
and another will gird you
and carry you where you
do not wish." 19 This He
spoke, signifying by what
death he would glorify God,
And when He had spoken
this, he said to him,
"Follow Me."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Notice that our service to others is described by Christ as the
overflow of our love for Him. Three times the Savior challenges
Simon Peter to consider that connection by asking, "Do you love
Me?" and then declaring "Feed My lambs," "Tend My sheep," and
"Feed My sheep" (John 21:15-17). If love for Christ motivates our
service, we will be less likely to be discouraged by the responses of
those we serve in His name. __Bill Crowder