Feed My Sheep

If you discovered something amazing, you would tell people, wouldn't you?

Peter said to the multitude, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. - Acts 2:36-41

Peter was the first to realize who Jesus was while Jesus was with them, and back then, Jesus told him not to tell anyone.

It was too soon.

So, Peter obeyed and kept the truth close to his heart.  

But then, his faith was tested.  Jesus was arrested and to be tried and Peter was afraid.  He had told Jesus he would go to his death for him, and he denied knowing Jesus instead.

Jesus had faith in Peter.  He called him the rock and put the church in his hands.

That tells us something about how Jesus works.  He chooses us, not because we are strong, but because we are able and willing.

Peter became a leader and spokesperson for Jesus, bringing many to baptism, because he knew what it was like to be afraid, to be uncertain, to be confused.

Those are the sheep he would feed.

So, if we feel we are not well equipped to do this work God has offered us, fear not.  The Spirit will guide you.

And failure is only a step in the right direction, so long as we keep at it.

More to come...