The Upper Room Daily Devotional – “Ready
to Share” Friday, 29 November 2013
Read John 21: Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed
my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love
me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him,
“Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you
love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love
me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.(NRSV)
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of
John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I
love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(John 21:15 (NIV))
We were visiting churches that support us
in our mission ministry. For one meal, our hostess and her husband prepared
delicious waffles with a sourdough starter that she had kept for 44 years. It
was a present from her husband’s aunt and had been in the family for 75 years.
Sourdough needs care; it has to be “fed” regularly with sugar, milk, and flour.
For the sourdough to stay useful to bake into bread, it has to be tended, used,
and shared; if not it will “die.” Our hostess told us that she gave some to a
young couple, but it had “died.” She said, “Maybe they were not ready to
receive the sourdough.” Since the beginning of time, God has offered us many
kinds of starter gifts: skills, talents, love, and grace to name a few. Are we
taking good care of them? Are we feeding them so they may feed others? If we
don’t share our skills and gifts, they will die for lack of use. When we are
ready to receive God’s love and grace, we can then share with others God’s
greatest gift, Jesus the Christ.(The Author-Eunice Arias (Canelones, Uruguay))
Thought for the Day: God wants us to feed
those who hunger for love and grace.
Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for all the
love and grace and forgiveness and peace you have given us. May we always be
ready to share these gifts with others. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Missionaries and those who
support them
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