Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 14
Thursday


FEED MY SHEEP

READ:
John 21:15-17
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Do you love Me?...
Feed My sheep.
__John 21:17
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Just before Jesus left this earth, He instructed Simon Peter to care for the dearest object of His love__His sheep. How could anyone care for them as Jesus cares? Only out of love for Him. There is no other way.

Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Each time, Jesus answered, "Feed My sheep."

Was Jesus unaware of Peter's love? Of course not. His threefold question was not for Himself, but for Peter. He asked His questions to underscore the essential truth that only love for Christ would sustain Peter in the work that lay ahead__that arduous, demanding work of caring for people's souls__perhaps the hardest work of all.

Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him. Affection for God's people in itself will not sustain us. His sheep can be unresponsive, unappreciative, and harshly critical of our efforts to love and to serve them. In the end, we will find ourselves defeated and discouraged.

The "love of Christ" __our love for Him__is the only sufficient motivation that will enable us to stay the course, to continue to feed the flock of God. thus Jesus asks you and me, "Do you love Me? Feed My sheep." __David Roper
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````````````````````More about Jesus would I know,``````````````
```````````````````More of His grace to others show,``````````````
````````````````````More of His saving fullness see,```````````````
```````````````More of His love who died for me. __Hewitt``````````
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It is love for christ that will enable us
to love His children.

*****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 21:15-17***********

15 So when they had eaten
breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, "Simon, son of
Johah, do you love Me more
than these?"

He said to Him, "Yes, Lord;
You know that I love You."

He said to him, "Feed My
lambs."

He said to him again a
second time, "Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?"

He said to Him, "Yes, Lord;
You know that I love you."

He said to him, "Tend My
sheep."

17 He said to him the third
time, "Simon, son of Jonah,
do you love Me?


Peter was grieved because
He said to him the third time,
"Do you love Me?"

And he said to Him, "Lord,
You know all things; You
know that I love You."

Jesus said to him, "Feed
My sheep."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who
loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I
will love him and minifest Myself to him" (John 14:21). The Old
Testament taught that God dwelt in His temple and among His
people. His laws were written in their hearts. But Jesus broadens
and personalizes this perspective in a manner unparalleled in
ancient literature. He speaks of God's presence residing in each
believer continually as an individual temple. The way to experience
His presence is by loving acts of obedience. __Dennis Fisher

__Adapted from InterVarsity Press Commentary