Limitless Love

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was resurrected, they were no doubt overjoyed. After suffering through the agony of seeing Jesus suffer and die on the cross, they had spent the following days in seclusion and despair.

Then, the news came that He had risen! And their hearts were filled with joy. When Jesus then came in their midst they were probably overcome with emotion and love.

Still, in the middle of all of the joy and love that was flowing, I suspect Peter felt twinges of guilt, sadness and shame at the sight of His resurrected Lord. Peter probably recalled how he had betrayed Jesus before His death, and Peter may have wondered what Jesus' response to him would be.

You never see Jesus ask Peter to apologize. You never hear Jesus officially forgive Peter. It wasn't necessary. Jesus had already paid the price for Peter's sin. He had already shown forgiveness in His death and resurrection.

Yet, Jesus did take the time to let Peter know that all was well between them. After showing His perfect love on the cross, Jesus asked Peter whether he loved Him as well. When Peter responded that He did, Jesus told him to go and show that love to others. (John 21:15-17)

God's love for us is just as limitless as it was for Peter. We may not have outright betrayed our Savior, but we have participated in actions that have defied Him in our daily lives. Yet, when our hearts are convicted, and we repent, all the Lord asks of us is to show His love.

We were already forgiven when Christ died on the cross. He took care of our sins - past and present - in that one act so many years ago. Our forgiveness is already certain.

However, that love that has no limits only asks us to show love. That love that keeps giving of itself asks us to give it out in the same way. The love that was willing to lay down it's own life asks us to commit our own lives to it's cause in the same way.

Today, as you think on God's limitless love for you, make sure you are pouring out that same love to someone else. The same way that you were forgiven of the unforgivable, make the effort to forgive someone else in that same spirit.

God's love for us is limitless! So, we should strive to show limitless love to others.

Verse of the Day: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13