“Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” John 21:15

If you have ever watched a NFL game, you know it’s easy to spot the fanatical fans who are completely obsessed with their team. From the Barrel Man to the Cheese-Heads, diehard football fans are fanatically commitment to being at the games and supporting their team, even when they’re losing. They just love their team. The truth is that we all have the same fanatical ability to commit ourselves to what we love and highly value—a career, fishing, a favorite TV show, art, clothes, Harleys, our grandkids…you fill in the blank.

So let me ask you a question. How fanatically committed are you to your grandchildren? I’m not talking about being obsessed with your grandkids and tattooing your grandkid’s names all over your body. I’m talking about an intentional, passionate commitment to live as an instrument of God’s grace and blessing in their lives. The reality is that grandparenting is not all you do, but all you do as a grandparent is a reflection of all you are in Christ and what you truly value. How much do you value your grandchildren—enough to invest deeply in their lives so that they have the opportunity to know and follow Christ?

Jesus left no doubt in Peter’s mind as they sat around that campfire on the Sea of Galilee that to truly love Him meant a fanatical commitment to what Jesus valued most—feeding and caring for His sheep. He also made it clear that such a commitment came with a cost. Many of us know the joy and delight of being a grandparent, but we also know there is a cost to remaining fanatically committed to Christ’s purposes as a grandparent. For some it might be simply the cost of time and energy. For others it could take the form of parental hostility; a court system that is unsympathetic or unreasonable; for some, grandchildren who make unwise choices. Whatever the cost, Jesus’ question to Peter penetrates to the heart of the matter. “Do you truly love me?”

GRANDPAUSE: It doesn’t cost much to follow Jesus—just everything. -Keith Green