The other day I had to pee reeeeally bad (Yes, i’m starting an entry by sharing with the world my need to pee. My mom is going to be so proud) but one of my roommates was showering in my bathroom. SO…I went upstairs and used someone else’s. (I live in a rather large house with six other girls. We have five bathrooms) When I walked in, I saw a note card taped to the mirror. It had two verses scribbled on it. I scanned them quickly and didn’t think much of it. A few hours later, these verses brought me to my knees. The passage on the mirror?
John 21.16-17 Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
“Take care of my sheep.” Jesus commands me, just as he did Simon (Peter), to take care of His sheep. I suppose my first question is, “Who are these sheep?” And the second, “How should I take care of them?” John 10.14 helps us out with the first question. Jesus tells us, “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.” This means that the sheep Jesus is referring to are those who know Him personally. But what makes this relationship so special? Jesus helps us out with this one, too. In John 10.5 He says, “But they (the sheep) will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” These sheep are faithfully committed to their shepherd! Scripture tells us that they’ll NEVER follow a different shepherd! (Jesus is enough for them!) I believe this faithfulness is rewarded with the second half of John 21.17 (“Take care of my sheep.”) This brings us back to our second question: HOW should we take care of them?
We do this by following a perfect example: Jesus, the good shepherd. What He did (does), we also strive to do: love the sheep. But how? Aren’t there a million different ways to love someone? John 21.25 says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even THE WHOLE WORLD would not have room for the books that would be written.” Step awayyyy from the computer and go praise God for that! The different things that Christ did to take care of His sheep are SO numerous that they cannot be recorded!!!
It’s at this point in my story where I realize what a privilege it is to talk to God–to a God who’s done SO many loving things for his sheep that they’re too numerous to count. So, I pray: “Father, you’re a good shepherd. You command me to take care of your sheep. There are so many! They all have a different need. They’re all in a different place. How would you like to use me? How would you like to take care of them?” And instead of instructing me, God revealed to me the many different ways He’s instructed others to take care of His sheep. (Mainly, me!)
I’d like to take a moment and praise God for every way that one of His sheep has taken care of me in these past few weeks. There are so many people around me who are faithfully committed to our good shepherd, desiring to take care of me as I prepare for this trip. If you have prayed for me, if you have prayed with me, if you have offered advice, donated stamps and/or envelopes, gave ingredients to make cookies for a bake sale, if you have offered your time, if you have sent in a financial gift, if you are a monthly sponsor, if you’ve considered being a monthly sponsor, if you’ve come to me with scripture, challenged me, offered me a tent, a sleeping bag, batteries, a camera, bibles, clothing, a back pack…if you have offered to help me with my passport, vaccinations, traveler’s insurance, if you’ve sent me a card/text/email/letter, if you have given me a hug, encouraged me, met with me every Friday morning to love me and to invest in me–even though you’re a busy mom with on-the-go kids! 🙂 If you shared my story with others, spread the word about what we’re doing, if you held my hand as I hit the “submit” button on my race application, if you’ve ever asked me “hey, how’s the fundraising going?”, if you’ve taken an interest in the world race, if you’ve endured my public speaking at church, if you’ve offered to take up an offering for me, if you’ve suggested people/places that might be able to help, if you’ve made a sacrifice of ANY sort, if you’ve given a gift of ANY kind, if you’ve showed ANY loving kindness to me at all as God prepares me for this…(things I have noticed, and things I may have not)…Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, my soul cries out in gratitude and praise…Thank you. I don’t know how I would do this without all of you. May God bless you as you seek to take care of His sheep.
Mighty God,
Would you bless this family that desires to follow in your footsteps and take care of me? Would you bless them in their giving? Would you be glorified in their selflessness and love? Would you continue to work in them, showing them how to take care of one another? And would you show them that as they love those around them, they are really loving you? Would you continue to meet your flock’s needs through generous and loving hearts? God, I ask all of these things in order that your title as our good shepherd would be clearer, bigger…that it would be enough. Father as the world sees all of these people taking care of me, as it sees them desiring to follow you, would you lead them too? Would you bring them along? Would you be their good shepherd? Thank you for every way that you have loved and provided in this. Thank you for being our good and faithful shepherd.
Amen.
