Feed My Sheep
Have you ever had a Bible story follow you around like a stray kitten? I have. It’s this one.
15When 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.”16Again 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.”17 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. John 21:15-17(NIV)
Did you see it?
1. Do you love me? Feed my sheep.
2. Do you love me? Take care of my sheep.
3. Do you love me? Feed my sheep.
This scene is a conversation between the risen Christ and Peter. Remember Peter’s past? He denied Christ three times. I love that Jesus came back to Peter and redeemed him three times.
God loves to take our worst sins and redeem them. He doesn’t redeem just parts of our lives, He redeems our whole life. God is after full restoration of our wounded heart and full restoration in our relationship with Him. God longs to see His sons and daughters living out a victorious life. No longer bound to past sin, failure, or shame, instead walking in victory and feasting on His love.
I love it that Jesus doesn’t restrict Peter because he denied him. Instead he gives him a job to do, “Feed my sheep.”
I believe God is saying the same thing to you and me. “Feed my sheep, ________.” (put your name there) It doesn’t matter what happened in your past. That’s already paid for. Jesus paid the price for you to be free. And with our freedom, we still have a job to do.
Feed and care for sheep.
So who are the sheep in your life? And how can you feed them?
Father God, thank You for your love. Thank You for never missing a beat. Thank You for redeeming those places where we’ve once, twice or three times betrayed You. We long to follow You all the days of our lives. Remind us of simple ways we can feed Your sheep today. Your Word says Your sheep hear Your voice, so we are looking and listening for Your command. We love You, LORD. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany
Amen sis, amen.
Good to see you here today, Denise. 🙂 Hope you are feeling better. Love ya
What a great message! What a wonderful, Loving God we serve!!
Thanks, Krista. He is a wonderful God! Have a great day.
This is something I pray for everyday….show me who to serve. Use me. Right now it may just be my little family, but who knows about tomorrow.
What a beautifully written devo Tiffany!
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for sharing a positive word on nurturing and caring for others.
MTJ
Awesome devotional, Tiffany and I like the way you pointed out that sheep are all around us and we do in fact have something to feed them.
Terri,
This is such a powerful passage. Thanks for bringing fresh insight into one of my favorites. I was just at a writers’ conference and that’s the question I’m asking myself…and God—who should I feed and how.
BTW, I love this site!
Blessings to you,
Kelli
Sorry…I’m doing too many things at one time…Tiffany!!!
It indeed is good to know that no matter how often we mess up, God still trusts us to feed His sheep.
Thank you Tiffany for the reminder that Peter messed up, but Jesus was willing to redeem Him.
Amen! Great post, Tiffany…reminds me of the song…”Jesus paid it all…all to Him owe…”…the very least I can do is…feed His sheep….
Love this post Tiffany. I never thought about the scripture this way… Peter denied Jesus three times and Jesus redeemed him three times. So glad that Jesus still uses me in spite of.