If You Love Me, Feed My Sheep

    Peter was grieved when the Lord asked him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” It has been suggested that the Lord asked this question three times because Peter denied him three times. I'm sure that the memory of that incident added to Peter's grief that the Lord should keep repeating this same question. Peter appealed to the Lord's complete knowledge of all things, of all men's hearts and thoughts, and replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” This is the vital issue and question of questions for all professed Christians “Do you love Christ?” It is not, “Do you love the word, the doctrine, the church, the law, the people of God?” though you certainly will love them if you love Christ. But do you love him? This is where life and hope and grace are born—love for Christ (1 Cor.16:22).

    Again, the Lord said, “Feed my sheep.” It may be observed from the repetition of this phrase following Peter's declaration of love for Christ that the only proper persons to feed the Lord's sheep are those who truly love him! There are pretended shepherds who feed themselves and in time of trouble leave the flock, or who feed goats and not sheep, or who feed them not with the true bread. But since the work is so laborious, the opposition from the religious world so great, the reproach of the world so constant, and the conflict with powers of darkness so real, only true lovers of Christ faithfully perform the work of feeding the sheep. They are faithful to preach and teach the word because they love Christ, they love the gospel of his grace, and they love his sheep. They also know that God will bless, honor, and prosper his preached word (Isa. 55:11). They are motivated by Christ's love for them and their love for him (2 Cor. 5:9-15).