Feed Them part 5
I saw a sign the other day that said, "Today's Menu: Eat it or starve!" And while that's really kind of funny--my mom told us many times when we were growing up that her house was not a restaurant where you could just order up anything you wanted--when it comes to feeding God's sheep, and His lambs, we need to take a more gentle approach. Look at Isaiah 40:11, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Jesus, of course, is the shepherd. But He has also empowered US to be shepherds. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). And, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). We are ABLE to care for His flock, because He is living His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life in us, and through us, and as us. We are able to love because He first loved us. God never gives impossible missions. He always provides what is needed before He ever requires it. The New Commandment is to love one another AS we are loved by God. To receive and release what we have been given. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. And the best thing we can do is show people a more excellent way. The best thing we can do is be a shepherd. Lay down our lives for the sheep. That's how we love them; we give them everything we have and everthing we are. That's what Jesus did on the cross in a literally sense, and that's what we can do when we esteem others higher than ourselves. When we put others first. When we see a need and meet it. Not trying to make someone want what we have, but giving people exactly what they need. Because love comes in many forms. Many flavors, if I can say it that way. And not everybody likes the same meal. So do we let some people starve? No way! We, like Paul said, can be all things to all people. We have it all, because we have love. Because we know and believe the love of Christ. And, again, if we DON'T have EXACTLY what someone needs... maybe we know someone else who does. We don't have to do it all ourselves. We're all in this together. He is altogether lovely, and we--His many-membered body--are lovely all together. So if you find that you can't feed someone, that doesn't make you a bad shepherd. That simply means they're trying to order off of a different menu. Let your brother or your sister help. You can't give what you don't have, and you can only give what you do have. So if you can't reach someone, you can still be nice to them. You can still plant a seed. But a true shepherd knows what he's capable of. So walk according to your calling. Don't try to be something, or someone, you're not. Do your best and forget the rest. Love God because He loved you first. Love God by loving people. Feed the sheep and the lambs. Be a good shepherd. Live a life of love because you know that you ARE loved. Because you know that you are LOVE!