50 Days of Wisdom

The motive for all your sanctification and service is not complicated. It's very simple: "Do you love Me?" That's always the question for any disobedient believer. It goes right to the heart. In fact, when Peter was disobedient and went back to fishing, Jesus asked him three times, "Do you love Me?" And then Jesus asked him, "Do you love Me more than these?" Jesus was referring to the boats, and nets, and corks, and weights, and anchors, and the trappings of his former life. "Do you love Me more than the stuff that made up your life?" Which is like saying, "If any man will come after Me, let him"—what?—"deny himself." Jesus is saying, "You've got to let go of everything that made up your life." Jesus is asking, "Do you love Me more than these things? Do you love Me more than anything in this world?" Remember, in Matthew 10:37,Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. If you love your own life, the life that you have created, more than Me, you're not worthy of Me." He's saying, "Do you love Me enough to deny yourself?" John Calvin once said, "No man will steadily persevere in the discharge of ministry unless love for Christ reigns in his heart." And that's why you must focus on Christ: that you might love Him in a greater way than you've ever loved Him before. Jesus is asking Peter and us, "Do you love Me? Do you love Me enough to deny yourself? Do you love Me enough to take up a cross if that's what I ask? Do you love Me that much?" Jesus mentions the cross because He had informed Peter that he would be arrested and executed by crucifixion. That he would be a martyr. And he reminded Peter, "If they hated Me, they will hate you?" But there's one other component of this love. This is love for Jesus that not only demands a sacrifice, but also demands obedience. Look at John 21:1, "And when he had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me!'" Those are the three components of Luke 9:23, "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." That's what it means to be a disciple. Jesus says, "Follow Me!" But like everything else with Peter, everything is hard, everything. In verse 19, the Lord says, "Follow Me!" But in verse 20, "Peter turned around"—he couldn't take one step following—"and he saw the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) and said, 'What about him? I'm going to die, but what about him?'" And Jesus said, "If I want him to live till the second coming, what is that to you?" Jesus is saying, "Peter, you follow Me! Forget about anybody else." And by the way, John did die 30 years after Peter by the end of the first century, most likely on the Isle of Patmos, 30 years after both Peter and Paul were martyred. They sacrificed and were obedient all the way to the end. And all believers should be willing to do the same. But isn't it amazing that our Lord places His precious mission in earthen clay vessels? That's us. And all the Lord asks is this: "Do you"—what?—"love Me?" Listen, He'll accept less than a perfect love, but not less than a real love. Repent and believe! GTY.org (SC17-2) – The Transforming Effect of Loving Christ

Today's Wisdom

Day: 996

August 10, 2026

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Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!