Deeper Life #322

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

—1 Peter 5:2

OUR LORD’S QUESTIONING OF PETER about love (John 21) is intensely involved with the question of feeding His sheep. The characteristic of one who has the love of the Holy Spirit is intense activity in doing God’s will, not in working for God. Love and service are made one in an abstraction of delight, in which the individual is completely transfigured and the self totally effaced.

It is very helpful for modern Christians to remember that we are to feed Christ’s lambs and carry Christ’s sheep. We are not sent into the world to make our converts, or to run our movements, or to conserve our beliefs. May the Lord’s penetrating question paralyze every answer, save the answer of the Holy Spirit in His way, “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

Prayer Thought: Lord Jesus, I love You. I am seeking new ways to express it. Help me to live my love in service to others.

SUGGESTED READING: 1 Peter 5:1–4