Feed My Sheep

Good Morning,

John 21:15-17 (NIV)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he 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."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered, "Yes." Three times Jesus told Peter to feet and care for His sheep.

Now, it strikes me that when something is repeated like this in the Bible that God really, really, really wants us to take note of what is being said and what He is telling us through the words He had written for us. Doesn't that make sense? It certainly does to me, I have to say.

So, three times I am asked (as are you) if I love the Lord. Three times I must answer Him (as must you) that I do. Three times Jesus, my Lord and Savior, is asking me (as He is you) to care for and feed His sheep.

Now, I believe I know what it is that we are to be doing. How clear must it be? We are to feed and care for our Lord's sheep. Not only do I read it and understand what I read, but I also hear it in my heart and in my mind. "Feed, care for, My sheep."

Now I have to ask myself (as you must do, as well) what I'm doing to be obedient to what Jesus is clearly asking of me. How, exactly, am I feeding His sheep? What am I doing to care for His sheep? Am I His obedient servant...especially in this way and in doing His bidding?

Sometimes, maybe too often, I don't like the answer to those questions that I hear being asked of me, if I'm to be brutally honest with myself.

Are you?

I'm not going to say that I hear clearly how any of us or even all of us are specifically to do what Jesus asks of us in this way. That's up to each of us as individuals to ask Him to tell us, quietly wait for His answer, and then go out and DO whatever it is He asks. Today it could be to volunteer at a homeless shelter soup kitchen. Tomorrow it could be to open a wallet and give some money. The day after it might be to simply spend time with a brother or sister who needs someone to talk to. Feeding and caring for the Lord's sheep can take on any number of things.

What I do hear clearly that is being said to us all is that we must do more in listening to God and then in obeying what it is He asks of us.

That, my friends, is our duty...and our privilege...as Christians.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David