I love musicals. My all time favorite has to be “My Fair Lady.” I just love the character Eliza Doolittle. She has spunk and she refuses to quit, but she also puts her foot in her mouth from time to time. Those of you who know me know exactly why I like her so much.
I was thinking about that movie today. In my mind, I reflected on the scene where Eliza was trying to figure out what to do about Freddie and she breaks into song. The thrust of the song she sang was “stop telling me you love me, show me.” As my friend Margaret would say, “That will preach!”
We stand professing our love for the Lord, we sing about it and we tell others about it, but what are we doing about it? Love is just a word until there is action behind it. How do you demonstrate your love for Jesus? He demonstrated His love for you. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rich Mullins made the same point in a song with the line “Faith without works is like a screen door on a submarine.” It serves no purpose.
Peter was the Biblical version of Eliza Doolittle. He was impulsive and tended to put his foot in his mouth. In John 21:15-17 Jesus challenged Peter. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly 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 truly 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.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus isn’t one to waste words and I don’t think Peter was ADD. I believe Jesus repeated Himself several times to drive home His point. Jesus told Peter, “don’t tell me, show me.” Are you showing Him your love today?