Last Call

John 21

“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17

Some people look at this passage as if Jesus is rebuking Peter. Other’s see it as if He is giving Peter some much needed guidance. Whatever tone you think would fit this conversation, Peter had went back to his old lifestyle. Jesus had spent approximately 3 ½ years teaching Peter how to be a fisher of men, but he’s back on the boat making a living casting nets.

In Peter’s life specifically, Jesus wanted him to leave his career as a fisherman to pursue the kind of ministry he had just been trained to do. God has called or might be calling some of you to do the same and it can certainly be a very uncomfortable “career path.” If you aren’t a career pastor, ask yourself this question: Could you reasonably expect to make your living on none other than the voluntary offerings of God’s people?

I fix cars for a living. I don’t really worry about my job security all that much for two reasons. 1. I can rely on the fact that cars break down. They just do. So as long as people have cars, they will need them fixed. 2. I also know that people value their cars much more than they support the work of Christ in the world through the church. What that means is, I know their car will break and I know they will be willing to pay me to fix it. If God has called you to serve Him vocationally – thank you for trusting Him in that.

Jesus charge to ‘Feed His Sheep’ was both a specific commission over Peter’s life and a general call for all of those who have truly believed in Him. Becoming part of God’s nation isn’t merely a spiritual transaction whereby we resume life as if nothing significant has happened. When we are His, so long as we remain here in this life we have the privilege of being ambassadors of the country of Jesus. The church is therefore kind of like a foreign embassy, not representing Russia or China – but God most high.

You likely haven’t had Jesus sit you down and tell you to feed His lambs. Would it help were He to do so? Likely not. The language of His commission to Peter didn’t spell out in specifics the kind of tasks that he would have to pursue. I surmise that even after being redirected, Peter still had to think, process and pray over what exactly he was to do. I hope it reasonable to assume he would have given some thought to what Jesus had been preparing him for up until this time in his life.

Maybe the question we have to answer is this – How does Jesus want you to represent Him in this world? If you are working that through, you’re already well underway. If you’re just starting to answer the question, I won’t place on you a specific task other than to live out the simple relationship to which we are called. Spend your effort reading, studying and understanding God’s Word. Talk your observations over with other believers and make time to worship God and pray to Him. Then.....do what comes out of that. I know this process is too elementary to be impressive, but give it a whirl.