Take care of His sheep.
John 21:15–17
Jesus did something incredible for Peter by the Sea of Galilee. By this point, Peter had already denied Jesus three times. Can you imagine how he must have felt—denying the Son of God? He must have carried shame, guilt, and a heavy heart. Yet in that moment, Jesus restored Peter.
Beyond restoring Peter, Jesus was giving him a purpose. He was calling Peter to shepherd and care for others—and you and I are called to do the same. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter answered, Jesus responded with a call to action: Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep. This reminds us that our love for Jesus isn’t just something we say, but it’s something we live out through serving others. This is exactly what we get to do each week when we serve children in UpStreet and Waumba Land.
No matter our stories or our past mistakes, God doesn’t look for perfection. He looks for willing hearts. He chose us—imperfect people—to do his good work and take care of his sheep. Every story you tell, every craft you help with, every prayer you pray over a child is a way of showing Jesus’s love.
Sometimes working with kids can feel exhausting or unnoticed, but Jesus sees it all. Whether you're wiping noses, changing a diaper, sitting in a circle with a child, or teaching a Bible story, you are taking care of his sheep. Never underestimate the impact you make in a child’s life. You, too, have been restored, you have been given a purpose, and you have been called by Jesus.
CHALLENGE: Think about…
- How do these verses personally impact you?
- How do these verses impact you as you serve on a Sunday?
Written by Eli Maldonado
