Feeding Sheep
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.” -John 21:15-17
Do your works show that you love Jesus? We know that the things we do will never get us into heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no man may boast.” So we are saved by our faith in Jesus, not by doing good things.
That being said, our works matter greatly. Do you proclaim to love Jesus but do not care for the poor or the hurting? I would do some serious praying if that is the case, because you might be missing something huge. James 2:17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” In other words, your faith is worthless if you don’t live it out. Jesus, when he is talking with Peter after his resurrection from the dead, tells Peter three times that if Peter loves him, he will feed his sheep. This is a little out of context if we use it to say that Jesus was asking Peter to specifically go care for the poor and hurting. What Jesus is doing is appointing Peter to build up God’s people in the Word of God and to care for them.
Are you caring for those around you? Are you building yourself up in the Word and sharing this with other people? Are you taking care of God’s children? Are you living out your faith?
Pray with me. “God, I know that I am not saved because of the things that I do, but I know that my works still matter. Fill me up with your Holy Spirit so that I can truly live out my faith in you. I am willing. Send me. Amen.”