August 18th, 20

A MESSAGE FOR PETER AND FOR US

Jeremiah 45 - 47, Psalm 105, John 21

You can’t give what you don’t have and you can’t teach what you don’t know.   Sheep need care, food, love, and protection - but they must have a shepherd to follow, in order to have it. 

Twice, Peter is told to follow Jesus, because Jesus wants him to know that He is Peter’s Shepherd.  And Peter must have love, care, food, and protection, from his Shepherd, if he is to offer love, care, food, and protection to those God calls him to shepherd. 

Peter, I’m your shepherd.  Even though you feel like a total failure, and want to cash it in and return to your old life, you must know that I have made a way for you to come back to my fold. Even though you’re disappointed and disgusted with yourself, 

Even though you are realizing that you‘re not the person you thought you were, 

Even though you did not stand with me when you thought you would,

Even though your eyes have been opened to who you really are apart from God, 

Even though all this is true, I love you, Peter.  

Your love for me should not be based on your performance or your piety towards me.  

Your love for me is founded on my love for you, and the grace that is available to you, because of my life given for you.  Peter, that’s why I’m asking you three times, ‘Peter, do you love me?’  You have to know where love comes from, if you want to feed my sheep.  Because you can’t give what you don’t have and you can’t teach what you don’t know.  Peter, come and follow me.  My love, not your performance or piety,  has made a way for you to return to my fold.  You are my lamb, Peter.   I’ve given my life for you.  

Now offer this message to my other lambs - to all those I am calling to follow me.  They’re waking up this morning feeling just like you - feeling like a failure, feeling hopeless, disappointed, and disgusted with themselves. 

You have a message for them and it’s not, ‘hang your head and go back to fishing and back to work - back to a life without wonder, without vision and without God’,  No, you’re message is 

You are loved.  Follow me as I follow the Lord.  God has made a way for you to return to the fold.  And he bids us all to come alive and follow him.  

Hear these three questions of love and one giant declaration that YOU ARE LOVED! God has made a way for you to return to him and be a lamb in his fold. You have a message to give to this world that’s waking up today:  

YOU ARE LOVED. 

You are loved!