John 21:15-17 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.

Do you get it? This is the most plain spoken and meaningful the Lord could get. If you love me, love those that I love. I know that there are teachings out there that focus on the feeding of the sheep and what that means but the essence of the message is love Jesus by loving His people.

There are many reasons we do what we do. We are asked. We are shamed. We are ordered. We are convinced. We are hounded. We are bribed. We are paid. We are threatened.

Do you do what you do because you love the Lord?

I confessed to an elder once that I just didn’t feel like praying. His answer? Then don’t. He was wise enough to know that feelings are fleeting and that my attitude would change because love would get around to fixing what was troubling me. Forgiveness, mercy and grace are extensions of God’s love towards us and in us.

1 Corinthians 13:8  (NASB) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

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