Deeper Life #262

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

—John 21:22

YOU CANNOT NOURISH THE SHEEP of God unless you are rightly related to the Shepherd. You may be a mouthpiece for God’s truth; but you cannot nourish the sheep of God unless you are willing to let God use you as broken bread and poured-out wine to feed His sheep.

Sunday school teacher, perhaps Jesus Christ is teaching you how He is going to make you broken bread and poured-out wine. Christian worker, maybe you are not understanding what God is putting you through; but perhaps He is teaching you how to feed God’s sheep and tend the flock of God.

Take some time to see what God has to say about shepherds. This feeding and tending of sheep is an arduous job, and affection for the sheep will not do it. You must have a deeper love than that. You must have a consuming love for the Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love for men, as men, will never stand the strain of Christian work. In order to catch men for the Lord Jesus Christ, you must love Jesus Christ beyond all others. Have a consuming passion for Him, and then He will flow through you in a yearning to draw men to Himself.

Prayer Thought: Fill me, O Lord, with Your passion for the souls of men.

SUGGESTED READING: John 21:20–25