In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:26-27.

When we come to Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit…we are coming to the source of all things. Last night in prayer as I was thinking about times when God did something unexpected, I realized He always did something unexpected by us and that our human reactions are what remain fixed. The greatest joy you will ever come to know is your deep need for God. Only then can we begin to let go of all that is counterfeit and false because that will always disappoint us. Our God remains true. You can read our chapter, Proverbs 22, and find more advice from Solomon about what is wisdom and what is not. But remember, wisdom comes from God. Love comes from God. Understanding comes from God. Scripture speaks to our hearts when we hunger for more of God. A starting place as we walk with Him. Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all…The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the unfaithful…v. 2, 12. And wisdom speaks…Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. v. 17-19.

All of Scripture is wisdom speaking to hearts open to receive. Last night in our Home Group, we talked about Peter. In our English language, the word love falls woefully short of encompassing the deepest kind of love…the love of God…agape…self-sacrificial love. Peter is an interesting study because he is so much like us. His love for God was so deep and yet even in that love Peter, for fear of people, denied Jesus 3 times as Jesus was before Caiaphas the high priest. Can you imagine how Peter felt remembering Jesus told him beforehand that he would deny Him. Judas had betrayed Jesus. And now, Peter, undone by what Jesus knew would be. But God was not done with Peter and 3 times Jesus asked Peter after He had been resurrected whether Peter loved Him. My translation only has the English words…When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.” John 21:15-17. In the explanation below was this: “21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. The first time Jesus said, “Do you love (Greek agape: volitional, self-sacrificial love) Me more than these?” The second time, Jesus focused on Peter alone and still used the word translated into Greek, agape. The third time, Jesus used the word translated into Greek, phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, “Are you even my friend?” Each time Peter responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo. Jesus doesn’t settle for quick, superficial answers. He has a way of getting to the heart of the matter. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked you, “Do you love me? Do you really love me? Are you even my friend.”

As we discussed in the Home Group, Peter always, always turned back to Jesus. For all of Peter’s love, God’s love is deeper, greater than any word in any language can convey. And that is how God loves us. We have so much to experience and know and God will help us. He died for us so we could live with Him. As we grow in the love God has for us, we can let go of everything not of God’s love without fear because we know that He has us safe in Him. Peter never expected to be chosen by His Messiah, he never expected to walk on water, he never expected to deny Jesus. He never expected the love of God to redeem Him and love him. Unexpected by Peter, but not by our God.