Hungry sheep are never happy sheep, so make sure their souls are full from your preaching or teaching. Soon after his restoration, Peter and his comrades would face the challenge of prioritizing their prayer and preaching ministry (Acts 6:4 ). Immediate ministry demands distracted them from their preparations which led to the spiritual and numerical stagnation of Christianity’s first church in Jerusalem.
Sheep will let you lead them if you first love and feed them.
This lesson is crucial for task-oriented pastors like me. This was Peter’s blind spot, which is why his post-resurrection restoration was such a pivotal moment in his life and ministry.
In Jesus’ third and last interaction with His disciples after the resurrection, they grilled out for breakfast. Then Jesus took Peter on a life-changing walk on the beach.
Jesus asked Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him.
A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said. (John 21:15-17)
Peter was like most action-biased leaders I know. Charge!
Jesus leveraged Peter’s failure not only to restore him, but to also reset his ministry trajectory with these two simple directives.
“Feed my lambs”
Hungry sheep are never happy sheep, so make sure their souls are full from your preaching or teaching.
