{"id":55420,"date":"2018-11-21T18:19:38","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T15:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=55420"},"modified":"2025-09-17T08:02:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:02:05","slug":"do-you-love-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2018\/11\/21\/do-you-love-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"DO YOU LOVE THE LORD?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jesus once said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you love me, you will keep my commandments.\u201d<\/strong>
\nJohn 14:15 (ESV)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many believers stop here, thinking that loving Christ is simply about obeying His commandments. However, this is not the complete picture. If it were enough, Jesus would not have asked Peter an additional question\u00a0 one that reveals a deeper dimension of love.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s read from:<\/p>\n

John 21:15-17 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhen they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \u2018Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Feed my lambs.\u2019
\nHe said to him a second time, \u2018Simon, son of John, do you love me?\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Tend my sheep.\u2019
\nHe said to him the third time, \u2018Simon, son of John, do you love me?\u2019 Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, \u2018Do you love me?\u2019 and he said to him, \u2018Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.\u2019 Jesus said to him, \u2018Feed my sheep.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From this passage, we learn that loving Christ<\/strong> involves more than obedience<\/strong>\u00a0 it includes a deep, active concern for His people. Jesus gave Peter three responsibilities<\/strong> that complete the expression of love:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Feed My Lambs<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Tend My Sheep<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Feed My Sheep<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These are not mere poetic words. They describe a practical, spiritual duty for every believer\u00a0 especially those who claim to love Jesus.<\/p>\n

    \n

    1. KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    To keep God’s commandments is to understand them, love them, and live by them\u00a0 not just to recite them. For those who truly love God, His commands are not burdensome.<\/p>\n

    \u201cFor this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.\u201d<\/strong>
    \n1 John 5:3 (ESV)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Why are they not burdensome? Because the Holy Spirit<\/strong> lives in us, empowering us to obey. The yoke of Christ is gentle, and His burden is light (see Matthew 11:28\u201330<\/em>). We are no longer under the bondage of law<\/strong>, but rather under the freedom of grace<\/strong> that enables obedience from the heart.<\/p>\n

    Moses expressed this principle in the Old Testament:<\/p>\n

    Deuteronomy 30:10\u201311 (ESV)<\/strong>
    \n\u201cIf you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law\u2026 then you shall turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
    \nFor this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    True obedience doesn\u2019t flow from fear or slavery, but from love and relationship<\/strong>. Yet, keeping His commandments alone does not fully express<\/strong> our love for Christ\u00a0 He also calls us to care for His people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \n

    2. FEEDING HIS LAMBS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    What does it mean to \u201cfeed His lambs\u201d? Lambs refer to young believers<\/strong>\u00a0 those new in faith or still growing. Feeding them means nurturing them with sound doctrine<\/strong>, spiritual encouragement<\/strong>, and biblical truth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Importantly, Jesus said, \u201cMy lambs.\u201d<\/em> They do not belong to us\u00a0 they belong to Him. This means we cannot feed them with our own opinions or traditions, but only with the pure Word of God<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \u201cLike newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.\u201d<\/strong>
    \n1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Each of us has a role to play. If you see a fellow believer wandering, struggling, or confused, don\u2019t ignore it. Christ calls you to feed them\u00a0 not with philosophy or empty motivation\u00a0 but with the Bread of Life<\/strong> (John 6:35).<\/p>\n

    \n

    3. TENDING HIS SHEEP<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Jesus also said, \u201cTend My sheep<\/strong>,\u201d meaning to care for and protect<\/strong> them. Again, the sheep belong to Him. We are not their masters; we are caretakers under His authority.<\/p>\n

    One of the greatest dangers to God\u2019s flock is false teachers<\/strong> and deceivers<\/strong>. Jesus warned us clearly:<\/p>\n

    \u201cBeware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep\u2019s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.\u201d<\/strong>
    \nMatthew 7:15 (ESV)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    These false prophets disguise themselves as believers. On the outside, they may seem holy\u00a0 but inwardly, they are filled with sin and deception. These are not just fake “prophets,” but also fake pastors, fake evangelists, and even fake worshippers\u00a0 people who claim the name of Christ but live in darkness.<\/p>\n

    Paul also warned the church:<\/p>\n

    1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV)<\/strong>
    \n\u201cBut now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler\u00a0 not even to eat with such a one.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Protecting the flock means exposing error<\/strong>, guarding against deception<\/strong>, and teaching the sheep to recognize wolves<\/strong>. If we truly love Christ, we cannot be silent while His people are being led astray.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Every Believer is a Shepherd<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Tending to God\u2019s flock is not just the job of pastors or preachers<\/strong>. It\u2019s the duty of every Christian. In the family of God, older siblings help guide the younger ones. Similarly, mature believers should disciple, protect, and build up the faith of others.<\/p>\n

    Galatians 6:1\u20132 (ESV)<\/strong>
    \n\u201cBrothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    We must not say we love Jesus, and yet neglect or ignore His people. Love for Christ includes love for His body\u00a0 the Church.<\/p>\n

    True love for Christ is expressed in three ways<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. By Keeping His Commandments<\/strong>
      \nLiving out God’s Word by the power of the Spirit.<\/li>\n
    2. By Feeding His Lambs<\/strong>
      \nTeaching, encouraging, and discipling younger or weaker believers.<\/li>\n
    3. By Tending His Sheep<\/strong>
      \nGuarding the flock from spiritual danger, deception, and false teachers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Let us not merely profess<\/strong> love with our lips, but demonstrate<\/strong> love with our lives.<\/p>\n

      John 21:17<\/strong>
      \n\u201cLord, you know everything; you know that I love you.\u201d Jesus said to him, \u201cFeed my sheep.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      May the Lord help us all to truly love Him\u00a0 not only by obeying His Word, but also by feeding<\/strong> and protecting<\/strong> His flock.<\/p>\n

      \u201cLittle children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.\u201d<\/strong>
      \n1 John 3:18 (ESV)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      God bless you.<\/strong><\/p>\n