April 20, 2015

“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

“Peter realizes now with the revelation of the Lord’s hurting question that he does love Him; then comes the point–“Spend it out.” Don’t testify how much you love Me, don’t profess about the marvelous revelation you have had, but–“Feed My Sheep”. And Jesus has some extraordinarily funny sheep, some bedraggled, dirty sheep, some awkward, butting sheep, some sheep that have gone astray.” Oswald Chambers (1874 – 1917) My Utmost for His Highest “For All The Saints” Volume I (p. 1047)

How many sheep do you think Jesus has that 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. Oswald Chambers also says in his devotion: “There is no relief and no release from this commission.”

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 can all 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 – it is not a suggestion, it is not a throw away comment from Jesus. It is call to action.

Pastor Dave