Love the Good Shepherd...

John  21:16 ~ Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  

We are called as was Peter to take and even more. We have talked about the great commission before us - Go out and make disciples of all nations. This is essentially taking care of His sheep. And, by our obeying the most important commandment "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" ~ Mark  12:30, we are also taking care of His sheep. How is that? 

Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength leaves little room for loving the things of this world. This is His commandment...so, we are to put God first not only because He asks, and not only because we are His but because its for His glory and our own good in the end that we glorify Him in this fallen world and glorify Him alone by first dying to ourselves.

 

You see, in that passage John 21:16 and Mark 12:30 are tied together. How? Let's first look at John 21:16 as to what was actually happening and what the message was.

The Lord addressed Peter by his original name, as if he had forfeited that of Peter through his denying him.  Peter answered, You know that I love thee; but without professing to love Jesus more than others. We must not be surprised to have our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done that which makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins, even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a true penitent.

We need to have a conscious integrity as we walk with Christ and for Him now as we have been called to do. We must solemnly appeal to Christ, as He (who is Jesus Christ the Son of God) knows all things, even the secrets of our heart. For, it is through our failures and mistakes we are made more humble and watchful. 

You see, all in all...the sincerity of our love to God must be brought to the test; and it behooves us to inquire with earnest, preserving prayer to the heart-searching God, to examine and prove us, whether we are able to stand this test. Why? Because of what we read in Mark 12:30 ...love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. 

No one can be qualified to tend/feed the sheep and lambs of Christ, who does not love the Good Shepherd more than any earthly advantage or object.