Feed My Sheep(2)

“Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:17b  NIV)

   This Scripture has special significance to me because years ago Jesus said to me, “Feed my sheep.”  My first response was, “Jesus, you are not talking to Peter.”  As the prayer conversation went on, He made it clear that He knew that He wasn’t speaking to Peter, but He did want me to feed His sheep.   I explained that I didn’t know what to write about.  I’m not a biblical expert, and I certainly don’t know enough to tell people how to live a good Christian life.

    The Lord said very clearly to me, ”Go outside and look around.  Look hard enough to see not only the beauty I have created, but also to understand that I have created it so that it draws people to Me.  I want you to look at the mountains and see My strength.  I want you to look at the rivers and see My flowing grace.  I want you to look at the stars and be amazed by the immense size of the universe I created just for you.  I want you to see that My Son, Jesus, is the rock you can stand on when you look at the mountains.  I want you to look at the rivers and see the flow of My love that flows to all mankind through the sacrifice of my Son, Jesus.  I want you to wake up early in the morning, and see My Son, Jesus, as the bright and morning star.  I want you to see the diversity of the flowers and understand that I sent My Son, Jesus, for all mankind, every race, every color, every community, and believe me, I sent Him for EVERY man, woman and child ever born.  Each person is My FAVORITE person.  I love all of them the same.

   Then He said, “Go back inside and pick up My Word and read about the first man, Adam and his family.  Read about Abraham who followed Me because I asked him to.  Read about King David, read about his victories, and read about his sins, and then realize that I called him a man after my own heart.   Read about the prophets who spoke on My behalf and wrote about their experiences with Me.  Read about Mary, the mother of Jesus, who took on the responsibility of guiding My Son through His first years on earth.  Then read about My Son, Jesus, who gave His life so that you can live with Him and me for eternity.  Read about the followers of Jesus who lived their lives to spread the Good News of Salvation.

   Next, He said, “Sit down and think for a few minutes about all that you have seen and have read.  Now, don’t tell Me that you don’t know what to write about.  I am with you and I will guide you.  I’ve chosen you to do this, and I don’t make mistakes, so grab a pen or sit down at your computer and get started.”

   I did what He asked, and I have been so blessed that I don’t know how to express it.   With the help and guidance of my Lord, I have written over 1000 daily devotionals based on what He showed me.  Two years ago the Lord asked me to compile a years’ worth of devotionals I have written and put them together in a book.   I never dreamed that I would or could write a book, but with His help and guidance, I have written a book entitled, “The Magnet of God--Creation Draws Us to Him.”  Each of the 366 devotionals is accompanied by a picture my wife or I have taken and an appropriate Scripture.  The book will be published later this year as an e-book.   I will let you know when and where it is available.

   The moral of the story is this:  “If God calls you to do something, don’t argue; just say, ‘Yes Lord, with Your help.’”   You will be blessed!

   P.S.   I put God’s words in quotation marks, and maybe I shouldn’t have done so because He did not speak the words aloud, but He did put them on my heart.