When Peter failed Jesus by denying Him three times before the cock crowed, it highlighted a profound human truth: we often preach about grace until we are the ones who have failed God.
After His resurrection, Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus asked him three times—matching each denial with a call to restoration—before giving him a command: “If you love me, feed my sheep.”
Reading my devotional today after returning home from the hospital, a passage for July 25 caught my attention. It echoed Hebrews 4:15, reminding us that we do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. It felt remarkably timely given my own health struggles today.
In the devotional, Dr. Joseph Parker gives timeless advice to a theology student:
“Preach to the suffering and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew. Don’t lose your compassionate edge, because you cannot heal a broken heart unless you first empathize with it.”
To minister as Christ did, we cannot simply see as He sees; we must feel what He feels. When you lose touch with people, you lose the ability to minister to them. Jesus actively sought out the leper, the lonely, the lost, and the outcast—and He was comfortable in their presence. Are we?
Serving others is what modern psychologists call an Act of Service. A survey conducted across 44 major universities revealed that giving protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects the heart against disease. Dr. Stephen Post, who led the study, noted that giving is one of the most potent forces on the planet for personal well-being. The physical and emotional benefits of compassion are so strong that if it could be bottled, pharmaceutical companies would market “Give Back” as a miraculous new drug.
While people give for many reasons—tax deductions, public image, or social pressure—the truth remains: you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. When we withhold our time, talent, and treasure, we compromise both our health and our joy.
Looking at this through a human lens, our love for God directly mirrors the five love languages:
- Acts of Service: Jesus told Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” We express our love for God by actively serving and caring for others.
- Physical Touch: Receiving the tangible touch and presence of God brings deep healing and reassurance.
- Words of Affirmation: The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, constantly affirming that we are the children of God. Romans 8: 16
- Quality Time: We spend dedicated, uninterrupted time with God through prayer, fasting, and reading the Scriptures, just as Jesus did.
- Receiving Gifts: God lavishly bestows gifts upon us—the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and the capacity to build wealth.
Ultimately, God speaks and responds to every love language. When we align our lives with His love, true healing begins—body, mind, and spirit.