In John 21, Jesus meets Peter on the shore after His resurrection. It’s a tender moment. Peter, the same man who denied Him three times, is asked one question three times:
“Do you love Me?”
Each time Peter responds yes, and Jesus answers:
“Then feed My sheep.”
This exchange is often seen as Peter’s reinstatement to ministry—but there’s something deeper here. Jesus connects love for Him with care for His people. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is how many of us take this as a cue to get busy… and forget the very One who called us to begin with.
The Tension: Serving Others vs. Sitting with Jesus
Many of us live in this tension daily:
- “I want to spend time with the Lord… but people need me.”
- “I want to pray… but the work won’t wait.”
- “I want to sit at His feet… but there are sheep to feed.”
We feel pulled between abiding and action, between being and doing.
But here’s the truth:
You were never meant to serve instead of resting in Jesus—you were meant to serve because of it.
Martha, Mary, and the Better Portion
In Luke 10:38–42, Jesus visits the home of two sisters:
- Martha is busy—serving, hosting, preparing.
- Mary is still—sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words.
Martha gets frustrated. Understandably so. She’s doing all the work, right?
But Jesus gently responds:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus isn’t rebuking service—He’s realigning the heart.
He’s reminding us: Love first. Listen first. Be with Me first.
But When Will We Just Get to BE with Him?
Many believers quietly wonder:
“Will that time of just resting with Jesus come only after this life?”
Yes, there is a day coming when the work will cease. When we’ll dwell with Him fully, face to face. When every burden will be lifted and all that’s left is worship and presence.
But you don’t have to wait until heaven to rest in Him.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
That invitation is for now.
Not when the dishes are done.
Not after the kids grow up.
Not once the ministry is less demanding.
Now.
How to Feed the Sheep Without Forgetting the Shepherd
Here’s how we live in the tension with grace:
🕊 1. Serve From His Presence, Not Instead Of It
Don’t separate ministry from intimacy. Let time with Him be the source of your strength to care for others.
🕊 2. Invite Him Into the Serving
Find Jesus in the caregiving, the dishes, the counseling, the errands. He’s not only in the quiet moments—He walks beside you in the busy ones too.
🕊 3. Protect Sacred Moments
Even a few still minutes with Jesus can refill your soul more than hours of effort.
Guard your time with Him like it’s sacred—because it is.
🕊 4. Let Love Fuel Your Obedience
Peter wasn’t just being assigned a task. He was being invited into partnership—to care for the very people Jesus died for.
Final Thought: Love Jesus First. Then Feed.
Jesus didn’t say, “If you love My sheep, feed them.”
He said, “If you love Me, feed My sheep.”
Love for Him is the starting place.
His presence is the well you draw from.
And when you feed others from that place—you’re not just doing His work, you’re doing it with Him.
📓 Journaling Prompts:
“What’s one thing I can lay down this week so I can pick up rest in You?”
“Jesus, in what ways have I been serving without resting in You?”
“Show me how to invite You into my daily ministry and responsibilities.”
“Where can I make space to sit at Your feet today?”
