Scriptural Foundation:
John 21:15-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
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.”
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.”
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.
John 21:20-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
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?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Reflection:
Looking back on my life the one thing that has been constant besides my love for the Lord, was the heart to serve. If there was an issue, I have always felt compelled to figure out how to solve it. Now this can be a positive and negative “super hero” skill. On the one hand you can help others going through a difficult season, get back on track; however, at the same time it can become a distraction and may cause you to get off track with the Lord as it relates to your own assignment.
Often, I have cried out to the Lord for loved ones, passed along wisdom given to me by the Him, only to have them to go down the same path. Every once and a while I especially sense a grieving in my spirit. Although it is disappointing, I am never completely discouraged. It is in these moments, I press further into the Holy Spirt…He knows a thing or two about being grieved.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
– Ephesians 4:29-30
The last time this happened, I heard Him very clearly say “You are not your brother’s keeper.” He gently reminded me that I delivered wisdom on behalf of the Lord and that person chose not to hear it and as a result, I had become too emotionally tied to the situation.
It may be hard to comprehend, but the Fruit of the Spirit has nothing to do with the soulish realm – one’s mind, will, and emotions. This kind of fruit is planted by the Holy Spirt to be nurtured and multiplied in your heart (in your spirit) for the Kingdom of God. For example, peace is not something that is felt per say, as it is something that your spirit experiences through a manifestation of the Lord (Philippians 4:7). The same is true with love, it is not a feeling, but a person – God is love (1 John 4:8 and 4:16). If at any point the peace or love that you experience turns into an extreme emotional response, such as drama or anguish check to see if you have not drifted off into a soulish place. The truth is that not everyone is ready to hear the truth at the time it is given with Godly direction.
I love the disciple Peter, for the simple truths he provided through the examples of his dramatic and emotional statements while he walked alongside the Lord. One that is memorable is Peter’s response to Jesus revealing His assignment:
But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” – Matthew 16:22-23
Peter later vowed that he would not be offended in the King James Version of the Bible:
Peter answered and said unto Him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. – Matthew 26:33-35
If you look at these same scriptures in different versions offended is swapped out for “stumble” (NKJV), “fall away” (NIV), or “desert you” (NLT)… all vows that we have made ourselves at some point during our sanctification walk. The only thing is that we only have control over ourselves and our relationship with the Lord.
Convictions (soul-sourced – Peter) can be challenged and ultimately can be a cause of distraction, but an assignment (heart-sourced – Jesus) is a process of evolution that cannot be derailed. In this context, a conviction is an emotion where as an assignment is an order. We must be careful that our responses to things beyond what has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit are not one of emotion or conviction but one of sound wisdom from the Lord. This will ensure that your steps and conversations are ordered by the Lord and everything else outside of this is fully in the Lord’s court.
Now, go back and read through our foundational scriptures. Our beloved Peter is commanded to “Feed the Lambs” then “Tend the Sheep” then “Feed the Sheep”. Slight word changes should be picked up on and meditated on – lambs once and sheep from there after. We as Believers are given the great commission of going out there and winning the loss, but at the same time we are to encourage and advise with Godly direction our brothers and sisters in Christ. This will require that we go back and forth between feeding and tending, but the ultimate care and wellbeing of all the lambs/sheep are the Lord’s. So, don’t get caught up again like Perter did at the end of the chapter observing a fellow saint’s lack of progress in a certain area – John 21:20-22 – instead follow Jesus and continue to feed and tend…feed and tend…feed and tend…
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- Do you have a family member or friend that just grieves your heart?
- Are you overly emotional – good or bad – when interacting with this person?
- If that person belongs to the Lord, ask the Holy Spirit if you need to change your “feeding” or “tending” techniques.
Such wisdom!!