THE FAMILY ALTAR

April 23.

"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest

thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third

time, Lovest thou Me? And He said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest

all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee." John 21:17.

Three times the risen Lord asks Simon Peter the searching

question : Lovest thou Me ? Peter knows the reason, and it grieves

him, for it reminds him of his threefold denial. The Lord asks

us the same searching question to-day. And He certainly has

the right to ask about our love when He loved us even unto death.

Do we love Him, and how ? We cannot deceive Him. He knoweth

all things, He knoweth the inmost thoughts of our heart. Do we

love Him sincerely and constantly? Must we not hesitate to

answer? Knowing all things, He also knows how often our love

for Him is so superficial, so frail and forgetful. But let us do

as Peter did. He no longer trusts his own heart, no longer asserts

that he loves the Lord more than do his fellow- disciples. His

pride and sinful self-confidence is gone since that tearful night

in which he denied his Savior. Now he takes the Lord into his

answer, and humbly declares: "Lord, Thou knowest all things;

Thou knowest that I love Thee," love Thee truly, since Thou hast

so lovingly forgiven my great sin and taken me back as a disciple.

He cannot say otherwise; for the very fact that the Lord asks

him for his love proves to him that the Lord's heart beats in

affectionate love towards him, and therefore desires his love in

return. So let us answer with Peter: "Lord, Thou knowest all

things; Thou knowest how weak and forgetful our love for Thee

is at times; but Thou also knowest that we desire to love Thee

more strongly, more intensely, more consistently. Thou hast

planted this love to Thee, even if it is so weak, in our hearts

through Thy great love to us. Do Thou strengthen and in-

crease it." Then the gracious Lord will also say to us as He

did to Peter: Feed My sheep; feed My lambs, that is, bring to

old and young My Gospel; and in telling them of My love,

your own love will grow deeper.

 Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav'n to Earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown;
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.