November 26 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 21:15-25:

¹⁵So 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.
¹⁶He 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.
¹⁷He 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.
¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
¹⁹This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
²⁰Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
²¹Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
²²Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
²³Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
²⁴This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Devotional

Today we would like to talk to the children for a few moments. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my lambs." Lambs are little sheep. A sheep is a very helpless animal. It cannot protect itself against lions, bears and wolves. The shepherd has to keep these wild animals away. When a sheep or a lamb is lost, it cannot find its way home. But the shepherd seeks it until he finds it, and then he brings it home. The shepherd also finds good pasture and fresh water for his sheep.

Jesus is the good Shepherd. He, too, has sheep and lambs. The older people, who believe on him, are his sheep, and their children are his lambs. Jesus as the good Shepherd protects his sheep, so that the wolf (the devil) cannot catch them and scatter them. Jesus also goes and seeks the lost sheep, and when he has found it, he carries it home and brings it back to the fold. And Jesus makes his sheep to lie down in green pastures, and leads them beside the still waters. But the greatest love Jesus showed for his sheep and lambs was when He gave his life for them, when He died for them on the cross so that they might have eternal life. And now He wants his sheep and lambs fed, and well taken care of. How happy we should be to be his sheep and his lambs! Please learn Psalm 23. This is a beau­tiful psalm, which every one should know.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank Thee that Thou carest not only for the sheep, but also for lambs, the little sheep; not only for older folks, but also for little children. We thank Thee, that Thou has said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. May we all be Thine, parents and children, for time and eternity. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in devotional: John 10:12; Ps. 23.

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