How does a fisherman tend sheep?

I have had the privilege of traveling to New Zealand a number of times, and our adult children live there. It is a beautiful country. Everything you have heard about New Zealand is true. I have been hearing reports that Americans are buying large tracts of land and homes in New Zealand. Why they are doing this I am not sure. It is a place where you can hike, climb, fish, walk a glacier, see the fiords, and many other things all within short distances. It is also well-known for sheep. There are seven sheep to one person, or about 30 million sheep in New Zealand. Our neighbors raise sheep too. Israel also had many sheep and Jesus uses this to tell a fisherman what he needs to do.

Jesus asked Peter three times do you love you, and after Peter said yes, He said feed my lambs, tend my sheep and feed my sheep.

John 21:17-18
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”

A new job for a fisherman. Jesus was leading Peter to a new role just before He left them. Peter went back to what he knew best. Fishing! But after not catching anything, the carpenter and God showed Peter where the fish was and they got a bountiful harvest. It is not that Jesus was going to bless their fishing business, but I believe Jesus was showing that He can provide as Peter stepped out to obey Him into a new season of his life to feed His sheep. Yes, it is a new sphere of work that Peter is about to launch out on.

Father, I love you and I will Follow.

Comments

My Journey of Faith

Sreedhar standing to the left of his grandfather in the center Almost 55 years ago a son was born to a Hindu family. The parents were 2nd generation Malaysians raised in a rubber estate near a small town called Sungei Petani in Northern Malaya at that time. This first child was given much love and care by their parents and had the privilege of growing up in 3 different states of Malaysia, most of which was in Petaling Jaya. He was blessed with his first domestic airplane ride when he was 10 years old, and made his first trip by airplane to Bangkok at the age of 11. In the mid 1970's the family moved to a large house in a relatively exclusive neighborhood in Petaling Jaya. This was a result of the favor his father, aged about 35 at that time, had in the workplace,. As a result, this son grew up in a mostly multicultural environment with Indian, Chinese and Malay children. In the process, his perspectives became cosmopolitan and racially neutral. On...

The commands are clear

Crossing of the Red Sea in the history of mankind was a spectacular event. The next spectacular event is the interaction with God on Mount Sinai. Cloud and smoke and ground of sapphire. Exodus 24:10, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. The sight and sounds must have been pretty amazing. This is where Moses gets the commandments from God. Exodus 24:12, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” There is such clarity in what God was doing here. The record makes clear the full situation as it happened after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea. Important details are captured and presented for us to read thousands of years later. This is preserved and taught until today just like the days of Moses. Father, we h...

Rags to riches need something else

Can the impossible become possible? I have read many stories of rags to riches and have been naturally impressed by everything that has been said. It required great persistence, hardwork, endurance and something else. That something else is what differentiates between one rags to riches story, and the many other rags to rags stories. Unfortunately, we do not hear or read many of the latter. The successful ones had a "good break" that is a gift from God. Psalms 126:6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. The people of Israel could only dream of being released from captivity. That is how this chapter started. Yes, the sowing of seed is needed. Hard work cannot be missed. But, along with the hardwork is the weeping. Weeping before God. He alone provided the deliverance when the people cried before God. Father, my heart's desire is to see all saved. Hear my cry O Lord fo...

Stand and raise your hands

I apologize if I offend anyone, but I feel free to lift up my hands when I worship the Lord. I would do it while standing up. It is only natural when you are worshiping the Almighty God, creator of heaven of earth. He is after all the God loves me and redeemed me by dying on the dying on the cross. The Psalmist agrees with me on this one. Psalm 134:1-2 Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. There are key elements to be observed here in this chapter being shared by the Psalmist. The familiar ones are us blessing God, doing it with hands raised, we doing this as servants of God. But a new element that I did not see before is doing all this at night, though it may have been said in other parts of the Word. The Psalmist ends with acknowledging God as the one who made heaven and earth. Reflection from 2016: Speaks to me about ...

It is premeditated

Have you ever found yourself in a corner? I am sure you know what I mean. Yes, this term comes from war campaigns, and widely used chess games. You pray that you are able to get out of it. David was also in a corner. He was about to go to war with his own people with the Philistines, but God provided a way out. 1 Samuel 29:9, Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ He is given favor to live among the Philistines, but in this major campaign against Saul and his army, David's loyalty was not tested. God orchestrated a way out for David. Yes, God made a way when there is no way. Father, I will always look to you for your directions in everything that I do.

See the greatest piece of artwork

All artists visualize what the final product is going to be before they start. They have their perspectives, the strokes, the colors and the condition of the piece. They start with a blank canvas and the painting comes to be. They continue to detail the work until it gets close to the visualization that they originally had. The greatest artists in the world have a view that is so unique that their final piece is worth a great prize. It is rare and shows something of the heart and mind of the artist. God is like that and He has had a view of the kingdom before creation. Luke 13:18-21 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Jesu...

Sreedhar's Journey

Search This Blog