You know how much

Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared some devotions. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.

Have you ever asked someone else, “How much do you love me?”

Have you ever been given the answer, “You know how much I love you”?

Jesus experienced just that, when He asked Simon Peter three times how much he loved Him.

The third time he (Jesus) 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 21:17 (NIV)

If we don’t tell those we love how much we love them, how will they know we really love them? Maybe that’s why God tells us many times in the bible that He loves us – so that we know how much God loves us.

If God were to ask you today, “How much do you love me?”, what would your answer be? Would it be

Lord, You know that we love You;
You know our thoughts and intentions,
Know the depth of devotion
Found in our lives today.
If our love has weakened, if our fervour has waned,
Turn us, Lord, by Your Spirit,
Let us love with love unfeigned.

Lord, You know that we love You!
Help that love to be true;
Fill our lives with Your Spirit’s power,
Lord of love, make us strong –
We who to Christ belong.

Lord, You know that we fail You;
Our sins, how sorely they grieve You!
Many times have we fallen;
Lord, lift us up again.
May we walk to be worthy of the call that is ours;
May Your will and Your purpose
Claim our undivided powers!

Lord, You know that we love You!
Help that love to be true;
Fill our lives with Your Spirit’s power,
Lord of love, make us strong –
We who to Christ belong.

When I was in my teens and didn’t really know if I truly believed in God, or if the Salvation Army was where I should be, our songsters (senior choir) at Rutherglen Salvation Army, sang a beautiful song called ‘You Know That We Love You’ (Howard Davies). God really spoke to me that day through the words and the music of that song – It now has a special place in my heart as it helped me realise just how much I loved God, and that I wanted to serve Him in the Salvation Army.