Loving Me = Take Care of My Sheep

In John 21, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him three times, and each time Peter replied with a form of a yes…”you know that I love you.” Each time Jesus had a response to that…

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” John 21:16

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep….” John 21:17

It was two years ago these words of Jesus resonnated in me, and stirred me up. I felt God was really showing me something then…something He had for me to do to feed His sheep. I now see that what I thought was going to be the avenue to feed His sheep, was only a stepping stone which had some hard and painful lessons attached to it. Attached was also some humbling of my pride and a drawing closer to God.

Today we finished our study of the Book of John in BSF. Thirty two weeks of studying 21 chapters…I can say my life has been changed in 32 weeks. I’m humbled (again), and in awe of the God I serve, and what His Son did for me…in complete and total awe.

And again I’m stirred up by John 21 and the same “sheep” verses, just as I was two years ago. Only this time, with a different focus and with a different calling. I get the privilege of feeding Jesus’ lambs as I help guide my children and others spiritually. I get the privilege of taking care of Jesus’ sheep at home, at Mission of Hope, and in my business…and in many ways, especially at the Mission with groceries, meals, clothing, friendship, etc. for people. And I get the privilege of feeding Jesus’ sheep as I share what God has done in my life, and what He will do for others based on what He says in His Word anywhere I’m prompted to…whether at the Mission, with my family, with my children’s friends, with my friends, in BSF, in my blog, etc. And I feel God is stirring in me and cementing in me these verses in John 21! I’m excited to see what He’s going to do with it all!

God placed me in a BSF group this year with some of the most amazing women I have ever met. We have all grown in our love of Jesus together. We have learned so much, shared so much, have prayed for each other, have bonded in a way that was truly special, which could only have happened by the guiding hand of God. I have learned so much from these women, and I’m thankful for each one. They blessed me at the end of our discussion group today with some wonderful books which will help me stay in God’s Word over the summer. (How did they know my Love Language???) The card, though, and what each of them wrote touched me in ways that I can’t put words to. These women were a gift to me this year, and they blessed me more than they know. What an honor, and what a privilege. I thank God for each of them today.

“Loving Jesus is made evident through active obedience to Him,” said our teaching leader LuEllyn during our lecture time. Do I love Jesus? How much? Do you love Jesus? How much? My love for Him will be made evident through my active obedience to Him. I think that statement is one for my bathroom mirror. How about you?