DO YOU LOVE ME?
“Do you Love Me?” Twice
did Jesus asked Peter, after the breakfast by the sea, after His
Resurrection (John 21:1-14).
Okay,technically it was twice ‘cause the first time He asked “Do
you love Me more than these?” After each reply Jesus gave Peter a
different commandment.
*Feed My lambs. John
21:15
*Tend My sheep. John
21:16
*Feed My sheep.
John 21:17
Feed My lambs:
The first commandment to prove that you love God (in this
context). Peter in all 3 cases represents the “true leaders” in
the church, and the lambs represent the new converts/ spiritual
babies, and possibly those who are about to be born-again. Before
Peter could start, Jesus asked “do you love me more than these?”
What He meant was that did Peter love Him with all his heart and with
all his soul and with all his might, did he love Him more than he
loved the world? That was the condition for him to start feeding
Jesus’ lambs.
Let’s be
realistic, how many leaders in the church have such love for God or
even have any intention of having such? Just a few. Instead, what we
have are many wolves in sheep’s clothing, deceiving, oppressing and
devouring the lambs instead of feeding them. And when they feed them
they do so with false and destructive doctrines, whereas they should
be fed with milk from the Word, the essentials, being spiritual
babes/ new converts.
Watching their
so-called spiritual leaders or false shepherds the lambs are easily
mislead because their leaders actions barely correlate with what they
preach.
2
Peter 2 is a whole chapter about them.
But Jesus wants His
lambs to be fed with milk, the first principle of the oracle of God,
the Gospel of Salvation & Redemption. (Hebrews
5:12-13).
Tend My sheep:
Obviously, this isn’t about preaching; but about giving, caring
“through love”, providing covering for those under us
(both physical and spiritual). And I ain’t talking about giving the
way the world does, to show off, out of pride, or for conscience
sake. But it should be from a humble heart and a clear conscience,
giving should be a medium to extend God’s Arm of Divine Love to the
world (particularly to those who can’t seem to reach It), carrying
their burdens.
Sadly, many in the
church don’t do this, some give, but probably just to “fulfill
all righteousness”. The attitude God wants us to have to those
under our covering or in need is that which David had when a lion and
a bear attacked his father’s sheep (1Samuel
17:34-36); or that of the man in the “parable of the
lost sheep” (Luke 15:1-7).
That’s how God wants us to treat the burdened, helpless, the
destitute and so on. Yeah I know we all have our baggage to carry,
but aren’t we saved & called to be the light of the world, or
would your candle go off if you use yours to light another’s? No!
But instead, it makes the room brighter. Just make sure your candle
doesn’t go off while trying to light someone else’s
Matthew
22:39 And the second is
like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Philippians
2:4 Do not let each man look upon
his own things, but each man also on
the things of others.
But
without “walking in Love” it’s impossible to tend to God’s
sheep the way He wants us to.
Feed My sheep: The third
fruit of walking in love (in this context).
Jesus asks us to “feed His
sheep”… with the mystery of God, in-depth revelation knowledge
from God; solid food, true concrete doctrine of God’s Word (Hebrews
5:14). Not the false, diluted, ego- sparking, compromising
teachings we hear these days. Until an appreciable part of the church
reaches this level, I doubt if Christ will return.
Revelation
10:7 But in the days of the voice of
the seventh angel, when he will begin to sound, the mystery of God
should be finished, as He has declared to His servants the prophets.
For us to get to this level, we
need to keep studying and diligently practicing His Words/
Instructions, picking up your cross (and helping others with theirs)
and crucifying your flesh daily, without compromise.
God’s looking for a new breed of
Christians who’ll keep themselves spotless from the world; who’ll
feed His lambs, tend his sheep, feed his sheep; and disciple the
nations.
He’s working on, and recruiting
members or His Perfect end-time church… That’s you and I.
Grace be with you all… Amen!
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