“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. John 15:12-23
Questions: Do you love the friends of Jesus? Are you ready to give up your life for Jesus, and for His friends? Are you bearing fruit by doing what He has asked you to do? Does the world hate you? Are your persecuted for talking about Jesus? Do you keep His Word? What has Jesus asked you to do for Him? Can you hear His personal commands to you (Rhema Word)? Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident in your life? Is the Spirit of God working deeply in you to pour out His life to others? Do you have His life to pour out? Are you asking the Spirit to fill you up again? Is Jesus your closest friend? Do you spend your day speaking to Him? Rides in the car spent talking to Him. If you walk together — does He share with you spiritual revelation?
Jesus wants to be with you – throughout your entire day. Yes – even when you are working. Because the Spirit of God dwells within you — you are able to have conversations in your mind with Him at any time. This is how one could pray ‘unceasingly’ as Paul says. What does Jesus talk to you about? What is on His heart? Or is your relationship with Jesus mainly about what you want?
If you really know and love Jesus …. Jesus wants you to ‘feed His lambs’.
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 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 21:15-17
The lambs / sheep are of the flock of Jesus … not Peter’s. Peter was to point EVERY sheep / lamb to Jesus the One Shepherd. Are you pointing your friends to Jesus, again and again?
Are you spiritually mature? Has Jesus’ concern and heart become yours? If so … then his question and command to you would be the same He asked Peter. Our call and command as His friends is to be ‘others’ focused. Self introspection will only go so far .. and eventually you will be asked to focus on His heart and wants. This life in Jesus isn’t an algorithm or steps of legalism, it is a life lived in relationship with our Creator and Friend.
Is Jesus your friend? Yes? Do you love Jesus? Then ‘feed His lambs’.