Feed My Sheep

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17 KJV)

Even with my limited time as a child on the farm I learned that animals must be fed. We did not have a large flock of sheep but we did have enough that we had to care for them constantly. I was not very good as a shepherd, but I did it because I loved my Dad and my Uncle John. David was a great shepherd and that is what made him a great leader.

The soul must be fed as much (or even more) than the body. This is what ails us today. We are puny weaklings when it comes to spiritual matters. We cave in to lustful temptations and prideful desires. We struggle to stand strong on matters of conviction and doctrine. And this is primarily because we do not nourish ourselves with the spiritual food God provides. If we treated our bodies like we treat the soul we would most all be in hospitals with few to care for us.

Now Jesus instructed Peter to feed His sheep. Not because it was pleasurable (though it can be), not because they would love him for it (still many do), but because he loved Him. This is the one motivational reason that supercedes all others. Sheep can be unresponsive at times, but whether we love them or not we shepherd them because we love Him.