This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.

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March 3, 2014

Journal for Today-JDV

Father God, thank you for the reminder that the love, power, and grace to feed Your sheep comes from Jesus. In my best natural condition, I am neither able nor qualified to represent You to others. And even if I do say the right things, and reference the proper scriptures, in my best natural condition, I am not able to “feed Your sheep”. Thank You for reminding me that I am only able to “feed Your sheep” when I am connected to You and Jesus is living through me. Jesus, please live through me this day.

And God says…” You are a vessel through which I can  reach and serve others. I can reach others any way that I choose; and often reach them through the natural wonders and heavenly bodies of the universe. However, when you and I are connected and Jesus is living though you; you can touch others and we are all blessed. Often, when we are connected you will not even be aware that you are feeding My sheep, it simply occurs as a matter of course in your day to day, and hour by hour living. The lesson is the same once again; be connected to Jesus and everything else, including feeding my sheep can and will flow out of our connection. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus,  and everything else you need, including the blessing of feeding My sheep will be provided.”