Feed & Tend
Yesterday we celebrated Easter. A day where Jesus gave His best to us by hanging on the cross. But His best did not end at the cross. After the cross, the disciples spent time huddled together as family. During this time of fear and unknown, Jesus appeared, filled them with the Holy Spirit, and said:
Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. —John 20:21
His best included not just dying, but also giving us His breath.
PURSUING AND PRESENCE
The story ending in His breath shows His purpose. Jesus pursued His disciples. He did not wait for them to come to Him as they sat huddled together in a room. Jesus went looking for His people who were hurting and hidden. He moved towards them as they wondered what would happen next after witnessing His death. He found them. He was a presence and stayed a while. He encouraged them in their hurt place and nudged them out of hiding.
Jesus filled them with His breath so He could be present with them forever.
Filled with His breath, the disciples went back to their workplaces and homes. Jesus came again to call them into action. After a night of fishing, He gave more instruction for what His purpose would be.
Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. — John 21:15-16
Jesus is telling His disciples this: I love you. Just as I am pursuing you in your hurt and am a presence in your hidden places, go and pursue others and be a presence in their lives with my love. Go find my people who are hidden and feed them Truth. Be present with my people who are hurting and take care of them. Feed My lambs and tend to My sheep with me.
FEED AND TEND
As we move into the month mark of walking through a life in a pandemic, let us remember social distancing does not mean spiritual distancing or hiding in a room alone. We are still called to pursue God’s people and feed them. We are still called to be a presence to the hurting and hidden around us and tend to them. We are still called to love them, even though our ways of sharing love may look different these days.
The way Jesus shared His love after the cross was different than when He was face to face with His disciples before the cross. But He loved them the same.
With our church buildings closed and worship cancelled, serving also looks different these days.
We are no longer sent into our church buildings. We have been sent fully into to our homes or workplaces. We are sent without coffee cups and handshakes. We open doors with elbows instead of hands. We share stories through computer screens and masks instead of sitting across a table together. We step back to keep our distance instead of running to give our friends and neighbors a good hug.
We are serving the hidden amongst us. The neighbor who lost their job. The coworker who goes home to an empty house. The family who needs to be extra careful because they are caring for someone who is sick or is at risk for getting sick. The friend who now has a house full of kids during the day and no longer has margin to rest or run errands.
BREATHING OUT LOVE
With of the cross, Jesus gave the world His life and His breath. He beyond loves us and we get to live in His Family beyond forever! By pursing us and being a presence, He equips us to be sent out and share His glory and love with the world. Even though we are not able to see God’s movement in our church buildings together, as servants of Our King we can still give away our love of Jesus by doing the same.
Here are some ways we can feed and tend to the sheep around us today:
1. PRAY:
Acknowledge we cannot pursue others without first being pursued by our Father. We cannot be present with others without first sitting in His presence and spending time together. Pray for the people in your home, neighborhood, and workplace. If they are followers of Christ, pray with them. God hears the prayers we say in the middle of alone and hidden /intimate places. He also finds great joy and calls us to pray in community whenever possible.
2. PURSUE:
Look around as you move through your day. Ask God to reveal those who are sitting in fear, walking through the unknown, or stuck in the distance, away from community. As your eyes are opened, go. Meet His people in their hidden places. Ask open ended questions to discover how God is asking you to feed His sheep. Use your words and actions to nudge them into community. If a neighbor pops into your mind, go for a walk and have a conversation from the street as they sit on their porch. If you are going to the store, check with a coworker to see if you can pick something up for them.
3. PRESENCE:
As God leads you to your neighbors and family, stay a while. Be intentional with reaching out as you move through your day. Check in with phone calls and video chats instead of text messages. Up to 55% of communication comes from body language and 35% comes from tone of voice. Even though we cannot sit face to face, we can still tend to His sheep by sharing our voice and eyes with friends and family. If a need arises, meet it or find someone who can. Move with His love. Use their physical needs to bring Jesus into light so He can attend to their spiritual needs with you.