Feed My Lambs
On Sunday we celebrated Mrs. Tina Paustian teaching 10 years for us at Wisconsin Lutheran School. Here is the devotion I wrote for the occasion.
John 21:15 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." 16 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." 17 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.
We are gathered here today to spend time with our Savior and our fellow disciples. We are not eating a breakfast of flame-broiled fish by the Sea of Galilee. Rather we are eating a luncheon of mostaccioli, corn, casseroles and Danish Layer Cake in a church basement. The disciples must have been fragmented and frightened after Holy Week. One betraying, another denying, one doubting and all of them running away and hiding behind locked doors. Yet Jesus united and strengthened them as He gave Peter and all of His disciples the calling to feed His sheep and take care of His precious lambs.
Jesus has united us in the unique situation of two churches carrying out one gospel ministry in our school: Feed my lambs. Two churches, one mission, one ministry.
Whether we are members of Epiphany or First Evan or another church; whether we have children in Wisconsin Lutheran School or not; this is our school; this is our school building; these are our classrooms; these are our called Christian teachers; this is our work of feeding Christ’s lambs.
Those were Christ’s lambs singing in front of us today. Those are Christ’s lambs sitting in our classrooms. Those are Christ’s lambs who are not only the future, but already the present of Christ’s flock.
As a member, this is your ministry to feed Christ’s lambs. You carry out that call with your offerings, your prayers, and your hard work. As a pastor, I have accepted Christ’s call to feed His sheep and care for His lambs. As teachers, and especially today, Mrs. Paustian, they have accepted Christ’s call to specifically care for Christ’s little lambs.
Mrs. Paustian and teachers, it isn’t always easy carrying out this ministry, is it? Mrs. Paustian, I’m sure that teaching the past ten years at WLS you have found some students who have been … how do I put it kindly … difficult. But you’ve probably had even more parents who have been … difficult.
You’ve used your classroom to teach uniquely, distinctively, and outstandingly. You’ve taught even when conditions haven’t been the most ideal. When there are been changes in the faculty and dear friends have moved on. When the heat didn’t work and you had to go on field trips to find warmer places to hold your classes. When there were times when the children were a bit squirrelly and didn’t want to sit still. And still other times when there were real, live squirrels running around above your classroom.
And yet, through it all, you’ve accepted Jesus’ command. “Feed my lambs.” You’ve taken these little baby sheep, the youngest in the flock, and fed them with love, filled them with living water and taught them how to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
And for feeding Christ’s lambs for ten years at WLS, we are grateful. There is no greater compliment that we can give you than to hear the words of your Savior commending you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
John 21:15 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." 16 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." 17 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.
We are gathered here today to spend time with our Savior and our fellow disciples. We are not eating a breakfast of flame-broiled fish by the Sea of Galilee. Rather we are eating a luncheon of mostaccioli, corn, casseroles and Danish Layer Cake in a church basement. The disciples must have been fragmented and frightened after Holy Week. One betraying, another denying, one doubting and all of them running away and hiding behind locked doors. Yet Jesus united and strengthened them as He gave Peter and all of His disciples the calling to feed His sheep and take care of His precious lambs.
Jesus has united us in the unique situation of two churches carrying out one gospel ministry in our school: Feed my lambs. Two churches, one mission, one ministry.
Whether we are members of Epiphany or First Evan or another church; whether we have children in Wisconsin Lutheran School or not; this is our school; this is our school building; these are our classrooms; these are our called Christian teachers; this is our work of feeding Christ’s lambs.
Those were Christ’s lambs singing in front of us today. Those are Christ’s lambs sitting in our classrooms. Those are Christ’s lambs who are not only the future, but already the present of Christ’s flock.
As a member, this is your ministry to feed Christ’s lambs. You carry out that call with your offerings, your prayers, and your hard work. As a pastor, I have accepted Christ’s call to feed His sheep and care for His lambs. As teachers, and especially today, Mrs. Paustian, they have accepted Christ’s call to specifically care for Christ’s little lambs.
Mrs. Paustian and teachers, it isn’t always easy carrying out this ministry, is it? Mrs. Paustian, I’m sure that teaching the past ten years at WLS you have found some students who have been … how do I put it kindly … difficult. But you’ve probably had even more parents who have been … difficult.
You’ve used your classroom to teach uniquely, distinctively, and outstandingly. You’ve taught even when conditions haven’t been the most ideal. When there are been changes in the faculty and dear friends have moved on. When the heat didn’t work and you had to go on field trips to find warmer places to hold your classes. When there were times when the children were a bit squirrelly and didn’t want to sit still. And still other times when there were real, live squirrels running around above your classroom.
And yet, through it all, you’ve accepted Jesus’ command. “Feed my lambs.” You’ve taken these little baby sheep, the youngest in the flock, and fed them with love, filled them with living water and taught them how to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
And for feeding Christ’s lambs for ten years at WLS, we are grateful. There is no greater compliment that we can give you than to hear the words of your Savior commending you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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