One of the most fascinating stories in the Gospel takes place after the resurrection. In the final chapter in the Gospel of John, Jesus has breakfast with his disciples on a beach. Here, he asks Peter a question. In John 21:15 Jesus asks Peter, “‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then feed my lambs,’ Jesus told him.”

     Jesus actually asks Peter this three times. Three times he asks, “Do you love me?” Every time Peter says, “You know I love you.” And every time, Jesus answers with, “Then take care of my sheep. Feed them. Look after them.” Jesus is doing something very deliberate here: he’s connecting love for him with taking care of his people.

     The way we express our love for God isn’t just in how much we read our Bibles, how loudly we sing in worship, or how many nights of the revival we attend. How we express our love for God is shown in how we love and serve others at church. Serving the family of God, feed the sheep, is what we do if we love Jesus. They’re directly linked. The true lover of Jesus serves the family of God. Some may have perfect attendance, know a lot about the Bible, but not serve, and I think Jesus would question them, “Do you really love me?”

     This week, you are living out your love for Jesus. Thank you. Thank you for loving our God so much that you are feeding His sheep. You are meeting the needs of the family of God by serving at church. You aren’t just sitting in the pew. You don’t just wear Jesus paraphernalia. You truly love Jesus. The evidence is in the fact that you feed his sheep!