Do You Love God… or Need Him?

You say you love God, but do you actually love him? Let me tell you a story that really matters. You've got Jesus after he rose from the dead on the beach. The boys had just come in from fishing. He pulls Peter aside and he says to Peter, do you agape me? And Peter says, I phileo you. Peter says, I have brotherly kindness to you. But Jesus asks, do you have unconditional love for me? Jesus asks him again, Peter, do you agape me? Again, Peter responds, I phileo you. I have brotherly kindness. Jesus asks again, Peter, do you phileo me? And it says Peter was cut to the heart. He says, oh Lord, you know all things. You know, you know I phileo you. The truth was Peter did not have unconditional love for Jesus even after he rose from the dead until later when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. So my question for you is, do you love him? Do you love him unconditionally, or do you just love what he does for you? Because it's easy to say, I love you, Lord, when everything in your life is working for you. But when everything starts going the wrong direction, he strips you of your comfort, when he doesn't fix things in your timely manner, do you still have unconditional love? Or do you start negotiating? Do you start compromising? Do you start doing things that the enemy's pleased with? Because there's a difference between loving God and needing God to make your life easier. One is surrendered, the other is transactional. And most men don't realize that they don't love God. They love the version of life where God behaves the way they want. So let me ask you straight: if he took everything from you, do you still love God?