So When they Had Dined...

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

When I read this verse, I feel as if Jesus is speaking directly to me. I can hear His voice in my heart, “Monique, do you love me more than these?” As Jesus was speaking with Peter, “these” referred to the surrounding disciples. But for me, it means a multitude of things. The most important- my plans. My life was laid out perfectly….or so I thought. Words of wisdom: “Perfect” plans are imperfect if not planned by the perfect God. Everything I desired so dearly began to dim as I drew closer to God. Plans like vacationing every six months, having my junk food night every Friday, getting a better car, “just because” shopping sprees and the ultimate- “living up” the single life until God sent me my husband (who was sure to be here by age 25). All these things began to disappear as God began to reveal things to me about my character and showed me that I wasn’t as ready for heaven as I claimed to be. Just like Peter, I had been denying Christ. No, it was not verbal like Peter, but it was even more dangerous-it was by the choices that I made. I almost wish that it was verbal. You see, when you deny Christ verbally, at least you can hear yourself and you might just realize your sin. Look at Peter, “And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.” Mark 14:72. But when making lifestyle choices, the days go by, the weeks go by, the months go by and if those decisions are not chastened, they quickly become habits and it seems “right.” But there is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12).

And so just like Peter, Christ reinstated me as one of His disciples, and He commissions me “Feed my lambs.” My life is no longer my own. It is in the hands of Christ and where He bids me I will follow. One way to test the sincerity of your relationship with Christ is identifying yourself with His plans. Christ’s purpose in coming to earth was to seek and save the lost. Are you united with Christ on this plan? Life is much more than yourself. If you truly have the love of Christ in your hearts, it will be a priority to seek and save the lost. This is my purpose now. To go out and seek the ones who have not experienced Christ or to bring back those who have fallen away. What good is my life if I have not led even one person to Christ? And on the other end, what good is it in leading “x” amount of people to Christ knowing that I could have led more? At times it gets weary, at times I feel like giving up, but it is in those times that Christ gives me His strength and encourages me to go on-for the race is not given to the swift, but to those who endure until the end. So, if I am asked to speak, if someone needs a prayer, if someone needs a sounding board, if someone needs s pounding board, if someone needs anything that will in turn lead them to the love of Christ, and I am able to give it….I give it.

So my commission to readers. If you have fallen away or never experienced Jesus, hearken to the voice of Christ that beckons you, “Lovest thou me more than these?” And if you are sure in your salvation, congratulations! I look forward to seeing you in heaven. But more importantly, I look forward to seeing who you brought with you…..hearken to the voice of Christ that bids, “Feed my lambs.”

M.S