Thursday, February 20, 2014

February 21, 2014

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you. ”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  John 21:15-19

As we finished up our fourth day of patching and painting a large recreation room in the lower level of the teen boy’s group home, I confess that I was wrestling with questions of, “Is this really worth being away from Barbara and my church family (and of course, Tyrod?)”

But then the Spirit checked me and reminded me that it was worth it to Him to have a nice bright place for His troubled, neglected and rejected teens to relax for a while.

He also reminded me that I had prepared the team members that much of ministry work is doing ordinary things with an extraordinary attitude. What sounds glamorous at first “A Mission Trip”, often comes down to doing pretty ordinary things that may seem insignificant at the time.

God called to my attention what Jesus said to Peter in this portion of Scripture. In fact, He said it three times! “Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep.”

When I listened to what Jesus says to Peter here and then meditated on it I understood Jesus was essentially telling Peter, “Peter, if you want to experience my love, make sure you express my love to others!” And those expressions of love usually happen in ordinary ways during ordinary days.

I would prefer to express His love in spectacular and supernatural ways, but usually the opportunities He gives me to demonstrate His love is in ordinary ways.

The types of things we have been doing for a few days here at Hephzibah are done every day by the committed staff of this necessary ministry. So, if we get bored by the ordinary imagine what it must be like for them!

God revealed to me through the Scripture portion above that the way to serve ordinary people in ordinary ways on ordinary days without losing the passion of our purpose is this – stay connected to the EXTRAORDINARY love of God! Experience it every day in the midst of the ordinary and express it each day through the ordinary tasks of life!

Will you connect with God today?

Will you experience His extraordinary love today?

Will you express that extraordinary love to someone on this ordinary day?