9-5-2015

Good Morning All!!                       

          John 21:15; “When they had finished breakfast, 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.”

          I was on the local school board during the early years of the technology push.  Computer, monitors, miles of cable, rooms full of servers became the norm.  Yet our knowledge didn’t always keep up.  During one drafting class, the new program for drafting stopped working.  The teacher worked on it for a few minutes but with no luck.  He called the tech coordinator and they looked at it for a few more minutes.  The principal and the superintendent came to see what was what.  They talked about calling the tech support for the company that sold the software.  While they were talking, a student came along and said, “This is what my mom does.” He turned the computer off and then turned it back on.  The program worked just fine.  Sometimes, we need to see the easier answer.

    A man was operating a small repair shop.  One of his customers told him that the pop machine wasn’t working.  He stopped and opened the machine and tripped a reset then turned it on but nothing happened.  With a disgusted tone, he called the local distributor and told him that their stupid machine wasn’t working.  They sent a repairman down who bent down and plugged the machine back into the outlet.  Sometimes, we need to see the easier answer.

    Many of us as Christians have been rocked the past few months by the changes in our culture and taken back by the open hostility that has been leveled at us.  Suddenly, we feel like we need to be like Augustine, or Justin Martyr or one of the great defenders of the faith.  I don’t know about you but I am not always the greatest speaker.  So we find ourselves backing away.   Maybe we should review and remember what Jesus told us.

    Notice our verse.  Jesus didn’t tell Peter to debate the faith or to argue with all who attack you or to carry the battle into the enemy’s territory.  Jesus told Peter to “Feed my lambs.”  Maybe this is the message we should take.  Instead of arguing, we should act.  Maybe it would be more beneficial if you took a meal to the lonely elderly couple next door. Maybe it would be more beneficial if you helped the young family down the road who is struggling to afford school supplies or maybe even the medicine their child needs.  Maybe it would do more good to take food to the food bank or volunteer at the soup kitchen.  Maybe all this noise is distracting us from seeing the needs in our community.  Maybe we should go back to the easy answer and feed my lambs.

Father, in your mercy you call us to be your arms and hands in this world.  You have given us the task of feeding and caring for your lambs.  Guide us to stay focused on your holy task.  Lead us by your Spirit to serve you by loving our neighbor and giving them a cold glass of water and something to eat.  Guide us in our path.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret