“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, Feed my Lambs…Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep.” John 21:15ff

“A twofold demand was made upon him (Jesus) at all times: to love those of the household of Israel who became his enemies because they regarded him as a careless perverter of the truths of God; to love those beyond the household of Israel—the Samaritan, and even the Roman.”  (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (p. 90). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

How many “sheep” or followers of Jesus have gone astray at some point in their lives? Too many to count. Of course, how many awkward, funny, bedraggled sheep are currently in the world? And yet we are to feed the sheep, just like Peter and the other disciples. How do we feed the sheep? How does Jesus feed the sheep? Jesus feeds by giving himself completely to all of humanity — he loves more deeply, he cares more completely than we could ever love or care for others. And before he left us, he told us many important things about caring for the sheep — including loving all people and serving all people. Howard Thurman wrote: “A twofold demand was made upon him (Jesus) at all times: to love those of the household of Israel who became his enemies because they regarded him as a careless perverter of the truths of God; to love those beyond the household of Israel—the Samaritan, and even the Roman.”

Jesus made no distinction between sheep and sheep. Therefore, our authentic “feeding” is something we each need to determine based on our own gifts, our own passions, and our own relationship with G-d. But we should hear the words of Jesus “Feed My Sheep” as a call to action. How will you “feed the sheep” today? What “feed” do you have for others? We all have “feed” – each person has something else to give, to feed to the flock. And that feed does not run dry when we look to the original “feeder” for sustenance.

Feed my sheep is not a suggestion and it is not a throw away comment from Jesus. It is call to action.

Pastor Dave

“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s (God’s) will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of (God) seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys (God).” C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) The Screwtape Letters

If you have never read one of C.S. Lewis’s books, I would recommend you read The Screwtape Letters. The crux of the story is that a senior Devil named Screwtape is teaching his nephew named Wormwood (a devil in training) about the ways of G-d – and how they can deceive and turn people away from G-d.

“Screwtape writes to his nephew: He (God) will set them off with communications of His presence which, though faint, seem great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation. But God never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature to stand up on its own legs–to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be.”

We all know this experience. We have those mountain top moments where G-d seems so present in our lives we can almost touch G-d. We feel lifted, energized, filled with the Holy Spirit so much so that it feels as if our feet are not touching the ground. And then something brings us down – we experience a death of a loved one, we lose our job, we are hurt deeply by a friend – and soon we believe G-d has left us completely.

Truth is, G-d has not left us. G-d never leaves us — but we can lose our connection with G-d? A wise man once told me that he learned this lesson: if we feel that G-d’s presence has lessened or been completely lost in our lives, then it is true that one of us has moved away – but G-d doesn’t move. It is through the presence of the Spirit where we are being strengthened to sustain both the good and the “tough” times – even when we lament “G-d why have you forsaken me”.  It is through the Holy Spirit that we have the strength to sustain our faith, knowing G-d’s love, mercy and grace are steadfast and true.

Pastor Dave