John 21:15--17
Therefore when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, of
Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes Lord, you
have knowledge that I cherish you." He said to him, "Pasture My lambs."
He said again to him a second time, "Simon of Jonah, do you love me?" He
said to Him, "Yes Lord, You have knowledge that I cherish you." He said
to him, "Shepherd my sheep." The third time He said to him, "Simon of
Jonah, do you cherish me?" Peter was troubled that He said to Him the
third time , "Do you cherish me?" and he said to Him, "Lord, You have
knowledge of all things, You know that I cherish You! Jesus said to him,
"Pasture my lambs."
original
In the name of Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep and
took it up again, amen.
Things look so much better in the morning don't they? It has been said
that a person commits enough sins before they are twenty, to keep them
awake at night when they are forty. How about you? If you are still
under twenty then consider your actions carefully because it is the
little things that will come back to haunt you. It isn't the stolen car,
the drugs, or the parties. It's the kid in eighth grade with the bad
complexion that you didn't stick up for when kids singled him out like
chickens pecking to death an injured hen. It's the girl with the weight
problem who really needed someone to talk to, anyone, but not even you
were willing. It's the snide remark said to the waitress who, as you
look back, probably was having the worst day of her life. Need I go on?
Like you I've got these little sores that fester. They remind me that
anytime I saw one of the least of Jesus' little ones and didn't help it
was as if I didn't help my Savior (Matt. 25:31ff).
God help us. Who are we to deserve forgiveness? The night is so silent,
maybe turning on the radio will help us sleep. So Saint Peter who didn't
stick up for his Savior but cursed himself in denying Him is examined as
our consciences examine us. "Do you love me?" "Yeah, Lord, You know
that I love you." "Feed My lambs." Three times Peter denied His Savior,
three times he is not just forgiven, but given the incredible
responsibility of feeding Jesus' sheep. That's forgiveness!
What about you? For those who are in Christ, only the good things we did
do will be remembered, not the things we should have but didn't. What is
more, you have been made a priest of God who has the awesome
responsibility to bring prayers before God on behalf of others, forgive
those who repent of their sins, and to declare the praises of our risen
savior (1 Peter 2).
So, on those sleepless nights when you ask yourself, "Do I really love
Jesus?" Remember Peter's answer, because it is so true. The Lord does
know that you love Him; He has forgotten your sins. But more than that,
He has given you work to do which only proves that you are not received
back as some second class citizen, but fully restored as one who is
worthy to work in His kingdom. Amen.
Dear Lord Jesus, we are troubled by our sins, please hold our forgiveness
in front of us at all times so that we never lose our faith in despair,
amen.