Desires and Affections3/16/2024 John 21:15 ~ "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?'" Everyone has them, and neither of them are wrong if they are focused in the right direction: affections and desires. So let me ask you this--is Jesus the object of your desire or the object of your affection? Is there a difference? The answer to the latter question is: yes. Let me explain in brief before we look at our text for today. When there is an object of affection in your life, that is the source of your desires. Affection is to look toward the object and long for that object to receive blessing and honor, you will delight in the satisfaction of the object of your affection. And when the object of your affection is you--that is when you will desire only those things that will delight you. This is where the "love yourself" philosophy goes awry. And this is where the "prosperity gospel" and all other false gospels grow in influence, for they play into the fallen nature of self-affection, self-love. An example from long ago, Adam and Eve, faced the temptation to rebel against God (see Genesis 3). They were tempted, not with the desire to leave God behind and abandon their fellowship with the Almighty, but with the idea that they should love themselves and take the fruit. Their affection was for self, so their desire was to satisfy themselves. Another term for self-affection is... lust. Today, the rampant sin of lust has engulfed humanity. Mankind's insatiable need to satisfy self has led to the hyper-growth of industries that cater to the carnal delights of the fallen heart. Consider what it says in James 1:15, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." There are many who turn to Christ, not for His sake but for their own--not because of their lost condition seeking a Savior, but because of their hard circumstances seeking relief. They don't go looking for Christ to find Him, they go looking for Christ to find something that will satisfy themselves. It was the same experience as in John 6:26, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.'" Their only affection is toward self so their only desire is to satisfy their selfish appetites. However, when the object of your affection is outside of yourself, you begin to experience the Scriptural condition of love. Jesus commanded that we are to love the LORD our God with all our hearts (see Matthew 22:37). We are to place all our affection upon the LORD our God. So that, with the Savior as the object of our complete affection, our desires then will be to do that which satisfies Him. We will desire righteousness, holiness, repentance, truth, sacrifice, and a host of other qualities that please the LORD. In fact, the Apostle Paul instructed us to, "...try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). Jesus, Himself, became for us the Divine embodiment of love--of having affection outside of Himself. He showed His love in such a way that it was undeniable His desire was for mankind's deliverance from the wrath of God because of our sinful rebellion. Romans 5:8 illuminates this, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." By way of example, consider marriage. A strong, healthy marriage is built upon a man and a woman who look to the other as the object of affection. Thus, their desires then will be to do that which will bring joy and satisfaction to their spouse. Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 7:33-34, "But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife... But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." This is what it looks like to have your affections set outside of yourself. Now, to the text for today, Jesus asks a critical question: "do you love me more than these?" And that question is laid before us as well. Do you love Christ more than... and you can fill in the blank. For Peter, perhaps it was more than these other disciples, or more than your desire to set your own course, or more than your old career of fishing. What is it for you? Do you love the Lord your Savior more than any other object of affection that is in your life--especially more than being your own object of affection? Revelation 12:11 clearly states it, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." My friends, let all other affections you hold be as nothing in comparison to the love you have for Christ Jesus the Lord. Consider the question asked of Peter as the question asked by our Lord of all our hearts--do you love Him more? And, if you truly have an affirmative answer, listen to the testimony of 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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