“Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.” (Jesus, John 21:15-17)
Jesus instructed that when believers disciple others, we teach them to obey everything he commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Among those things he commanded: taking care of his flock, his people.
So how do we feed Jesus’s lambs and sheep?
Lambs need pure spiritual milk (1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 5:12 & 6:1-2), and to quickly grow beyond that to solid spiritual food. Sheep need solid spiritual food (Hebrews 5:14 & 6:1).
How do we take care of Jesus’s sheep?
Our example is the good shepherd, described in John 10. Jesus’s purpose toward the sheep (John 10:10), his relationship with the sheep (John 10:3-5, 14, 16), and his level of caring for the sheep (John 10:11-13) are all hallmarks.
Jesus took care of people in comprehensive ways that restored them to wholeness. That included physical healing, spiritual deliverance, and teaching of truth that brings life.
Whatever we are individually called to, this work of discipleship is woven into it.
And here is how we can measure the outcome of our work:
“Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:1-6 NLT).
Photo: Unsplash
Be First to Comment