The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 4 October 2021 – TOPIC: FEED MY LAMBS, FEED MY SHEEP, AND FOLLOW ME
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TOPIC: FEED MY LAMBS, FEED MY SHEEP, AND FOLLOW ME
READ: JOHN 21:15-25 (NKJV)15. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, 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.”16. He said to him again a second time, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”17. He said to him the third time, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.18. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry [you] where you do not wish.”19. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”21. Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what [about] this man?”22. Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what [is that] to you? You follow Me.”23. Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what [is that] to you?”24. This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.25. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.*THE MESSAGE:*Today’s bible portion is a wake-up call for Christians, especially Ministers of God. We are distracted by a lot of things – money and the pursuit of worldly pleasure, education, career advancement, etc. These are distracting us from the main purpose for which God created us – to believe in Him through Jesus Christ and to serve Him by advancing His Kingdom.Jesus called Peter to be a “fisher of Men” (Mark 1:17). But here we see Peter going back to his fishing profession. He had earlier expressed his love for Christ, saying that even if others denied Him, he would not (Mark 14:29). Jesus is reminding us once again to concentrate on our Ministry – feed His lamb (new believers) and His sheep (mature believers), to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Are you a lamb? Have you received Christ? He cares for you as The Good Shepherd. Are you taking care of the people of God under your care? Or are you seeking your own good? Return to your first love!*PRAYER:* Lond Jesus, please give me grace to feed Your lamb and sheep. Strengthen my love for You. Amen