John 21:15-17 – When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." (NIV)

In my morning prayers, I had prayed for God to use me in his service and to set an appointment where I could help one of his lambs or witness in his name. On the way into the city, I had a wonderful encounter with a hitchhiker who blessed me with the opportunity to give him a ride. I witnessed to him and thanked him for being the appointment that I had asked for [>The Prayer Of Jabez, June 9, 2001].

But God wasn't through with me yet. By mid-morning, I felt compelled to move a motor home that I was offering for sale from a lot near my office to a parking lot almost a mile away. I really didn't want to take the time, but I felt compelled to move it and there was a deadline as to when I should have it there: 12 o'clock noon.

I was working away in the office, but as more and more time passed, I began to get that nervous feeling that I was running behind schedule and I had an important meeting to go to. Suddenly, I realized that I was late; it was 12:15 and I was still at my desk. Since I didn't have anyone to give me a ride back, I took my bicycle for return transportation and moved the motor home to its new location.

On the way back to my office there is a busy intersection on a major highway out of the city. A Burger King restaurant stands on one corner. This Burger King has a small tree along the sidewalk, and as I rode by there were two vagabonds, a man and a woman, under the tree. As I passed them on my bike I began to have that feeling that I should have stopped to talk to them. As I reached the intersection I saw a second man across the intersection holding up a sign. Realizing that he was with the other two, I walked back to them.

I spoke to the man and asked where they were going, thinking that perhaps God wanted me to give them a ride. He explained that they were on their way to Wichita, Kansas. This is quite a distance, and I didn't think that this was what God had in mind. Then I asked what the man with the sign was doing, since he was on the wrong side of the highway to secure a ride north to Wichita. The man explained that he was trying to "make lunch money". Lunch money — so that was it! God had brought me to this intersection so that I could feed his lambs. I gave the man enough money for three lunches, offered them God's blessings and rode away satisfied that my mission for God had been accomplished.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for reminding us that our job on this earth is to "feed your lambs". Amen.

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About the author:

Chris Clark <clarkcj@hotmail.com>
Rio Bravo, Mexico
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