Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep. [JOHN 21:16, AMPC]
A shepherd is a person charged with the responsibility of taking care of a flock of sheep. Such a shepherd holds the lives and health of the sheep in his hands. His actions or inactions become directly responsible for the outcome of the lives of his flock. This flock look to the shepherd for direction, instruction and sustenance and would do little or nothing that has not been instructed or directed by the shepherd. He guides, sacrifices and feeds his sheep.
Discipleship cannot be divorced from the realities associated with practising the Kingdom of God. You do not have to be the general overseer of a ministry before you can become a discipler, no! In fact, Jesus in Matthew 28:19 admonished us all to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. Every one who accepts the life of Jesus and becomes born again, is a potential disciple to others and that DEFINITELY includes you.
The discipler, much like the shepherd, watches over those who God has placed in his/her hands. He/she does not discriminate, the discipler is to ensure that the lives and destinies of his people are fortified in the place of prayer and the Word of God. He takes care of the feeding of the disciples and ensures that they do not come to harm.
Discipleship is God’s strategy for global impact! We all became who we are because someone watched over us. The same way, we are expected to watch over other. Now, there are many persons around you who look to you for daily bread. You may not even have realised that you are their discipler at this point, let this Word this morning serve as an instrument to awaken your consciousness to that fact. Do not starve your sheep. They have been handed over to you for sustenance and these you shall present when you finally stand before your Maker. Pray for them, speak to them, fight for them, keep them. Fear not, the Lord has given you abundance of Grace to do all that you need to do to fulfil your mandate, SHALOM!
CONFESSION
This day, I receive every grace that I need to be consistently relevant and active in the agenda of God for my country, my continent and my world. I will no longer sit by and let the rule of darkness eclipse the loving goodness and grace of the Kingdom of God. I take the initiative and I rise to raise men and women unto God for His glory, in the name of Jesus, Amen!
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