April 17

Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. — John 21:17 BSB

When you look at your life today, what do you see? Failures, broken promises, commandments violated, purity stained—everything seems sullied. Then Jesus looks at you with His calm, holy, searching gaze and asks, “Do you love Me?” As you prepare to answer, you think of all your dishonorable actions and sins and feel speechless. Yet beneath all the sin and failure, you are aware that you do love Him. What a comfort it is to know that Christ sees what is in your heart! Perhaps others might doubt your love because of your mistakes, but Christ knows the truth, even amid your shortcomings.

I am grateful that perfection is not the test of discipleship. We may be full of faults, stumbling daily, failing to represent Christ well. But Christ sees the love in our hearts, despite our failures, and He loves us still—loves us to the very end. “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You!”