Do you love Jesus?
You may answer with enthusiasm, “YES OF COURSE I DO!”.
And although you may love the Lord – take a moment to reflect on this story below to see if you are living up to what He has commanded.
Remember the story in John 21 where Jesus asked Peter if he really loved Him?
“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.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” – John 21: 15-19
At first, Peter was confident in his response – knowing that He loved the Lord.
But Jesus challenged Peter – trying to get him to understand that truly loving Jesus meant total commitment.
When we accept Jesus as Lord over our lives, it isn’t a fleeting moment or “get into heaven free card.”
It is total and utter devotion, placing our love for Jesus above everything else in our lives – our job, possessions, finances, even family.
Taking it further, we don’t obey Jesus to earn His love…
… we obey Him because we love Him.
Because we love Jesus, we look out for “the least of these” – seeing them as real people, not outcasts.
We are intentional with our finances – knowing all of our money really belongs to God and we are simply stewards of it.
If married, husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives submit to Jesus as onto the Lord.
Singles remain pure, serving God and trusting in His perfect timing and not becoming unequally yoked.
When God became flesh, He remained fully God and fully man.
Jesus knew He was ultimately called to die on a cross – to pay the price of sin once and for all and settle the score to reunite believers to God.
But are we willing to take risks for Jesus? Even knowing it could cost us our own security – even our lives?
This doesn’t mean we behave recklessly and put ourselves in dangerous situations in order to “prove” our love.
But it does mean that we should live our lives here on earth intentionally – knowing everything we do should reflect as an act of worship to our Creator and serve an eternal purpose.
So if you love Jesus – feed His sheep!
Pray to God so He will give you eyes to see others as He does… and an ear to hear as He desires.
You’ll be amazed at the eternal impact you will have when you simply live out the love of Jesus Christ in real time, every day.
Do you think the radical love of Jesus changes people?
What are some ways you can “feed His sheep” today?
You can post your answers to our Facebook page and join in the conversation with other believers from all around the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-1717
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