This past weekend, my family and I celebrated my mom’s 65th birthday. As I stood back at one point and looked around, the family had jumped in and were cleaning up the facility. What took 2 days to set up, took minutes to tear down. As I watched, God spoke to me about the generational blessing that I received from my family. Growing up, I always knew whom were the villagers around me. Whom labored with my parents to raise my siblings and me. Whom gave unto me out of love and spoke encouragement to my spirit. This wasn’t something new for them – my family. They were raised with this same generational blessing - this village that helped raise them into the people that they are today. The one thing that I remember most of this weekend wasn’t the hours of labor nor the frustration when something didn’t go as planned. It was the love in the air that generated from the servants present.
I didn’t truly understand until this weekend that my servitude mentality isn’t mine. It was breed of my genes and birthed in my spirit. It is the love that passes all understanding and knows no bounds. This blessing helps me to be who I am without having to explain my inner workings. This family that I was born into and raise with is not all blood family. I have 2 sets of Godparents whom have this same mentality – this serving others mindset that doesn’t want to be put on a pedestal. This mindset that sends has us jumping in while saying let’s get it done is the beat of our hearts as we put our hands to the plow and work. I don’t think any of my family know what it is to come to an event and just sit down because this is not what we do.
As I write this, I am reminded of Jesus’ conversation with Peter – John 21:15-17 –
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
In my reading of this and my thinking back on this past weekend, feeding of the sheep is not just providing them with food. It is a lifestyle that Jesus wanted Peter to give unto His people. Take care of them, serve them and make sure that they are okay. A lamb is a young sheep, those that have newly recognized Christ as their Savior, those that are just starting this journey with Christ, those that are young in age. Feed them, take care of them, and protect them. Sheep are the mature ones, those that have been in Christ for years. Though they may have been around the herd for a while, they still need to be fed, taken care of and protected. Be it Pastor, Deacon, Parking Lot Attendant, Usher, Janitor, or whatever title they hold in the church, all of God’s children need to be feed constantly.
If we are to be like Christ then we MUST do that which He instructed Peter – Feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Take care of them. Provide for them. Protect them. Serve them. You’ll never know when you will be the one in need of the sustenance as received from the Word of God.
By serving His people, we are serving Him. Who wouldn’t serve a God like this? Who wouldn’t serve The Healer, Redeemer, Savior, Provider, Protector???? Who wouldn’t serve the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow??? Who wouldn’t give unto Him all that He asks? Yes, there is a price to pay and yes, sometimes we see it as a heavy tax, but what He asks of us is nothing compared to the breath that He provides for us daily.