When Jesus Commissions Us
Nothing like the Sea of Galilee on our trip to Israel pointed to how transcendent the gospel has been through Jesus’ model of discipleship and evangelism. This is the same lake Jesus first called Peter from fisherman to disciple and the very shoreline where our resurrected Savior instructed Peter to “feed His sheep”. To my right and to my left, pilgrims from all nations reached down to dip their hand in the water. The water was the same, but the hearts beating in all of our chests had been transformed.
In 2020, we are introducing a new term into our fe2 vocabulary: Personal Ministry. It simply means owning our calling and bearing fruit for the glory of God. We can look to Peter’s story to see how the Lord is still creating beauty from ashes 6,500 miles away from the Sea of Galilee. Let’s examine how Jesus commissioned Peter into personal ministry in John 21:15-19:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Lord’s repeated question mirrored the three times Peter denied Jesus as He approached His crucifixion. Like a balm to a wound, the Lord forgave and healed each time He asked if Peter loved Him. He was making all things new by restoring His relationship with his disciple and showing the sufficiency of His authority and grace. Not only was He renewing a life but redeeming the past with knowledge of the future. In addition to forgiveness was a call to feed His sheep. Jesus’s words worked to transform Peter’s brokenness into his purpose. The connection is significant for three reasons:
1. Jesus heals. Only He has the power to forgive and make beautiful what once was broken.
2. Peter’s ministry was birthed from a deep understanding of Jesus’ immeasurable grace, kindness, and mercy towards him in his own life.
3. Peter’s service is motivated by his love of the Lord.
Our desire to serve develops as we acknowledge our need for the saving grace of Jesus. Whether that looks like discipling others, evangelizing in our sphere of influence, or serving in unique ways, we are like Peter – changed by a personal encounter with our Savior. By being broken together, we are also no longer allowing our pain to isolate us but draw us into community. We are acutely aware mentorship isn’t a method to fix one another, but to direct our hearts and minds to the One who does. As we grow in our faith and are honest with the power of the gospel in our own lives, the Lord is spurring us forward to tell of the intensity of love in the areas we have experienced it most.
The beauty of personal ministry is it is a reflection of your unique relationship with the Lord. Just like with Peter, the Lord heals old wounds in one to affect many. Personal ministry is an outcropping of the inability to withhold the love of Christ from the world. Whether that looks like a hospitality ministry because someone opened their home to you when you needed it most or a support group because you understand the pain of being a widow, don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Pray and allow the Lord to lead you. Our obedience ripples through the Kingdom of God and the primary recipient most often is another believer not ourselves. Meanwhile, what an honor to participate in the work of the Lord and find joy in His calling.
When evaluating a personal ministry, let fe2 Women’s Network be a resource to and for you. This network is an example of personal ministry in action. It was once the passion of two gifted women doing what came so naturally to them - mentoring women and building intentional relationship in the name of Jesus. The desire to encourage and equip other women to answer Jesus’s call to discipleship grew. Tricia Carrier and Pam Ramsey embraced the calling to mobilize others and have worked diligently to show us what it looks like to be relational stewards for our mutual growth and God’s glory. They understand what it means to come under the authority of the local church for guidance and support. Whether your personal ministry fits within the direction of Fellowship Women’s Ministry or in your own sphere of influence, fe2 would love to pray and support you along the way.
Our charge to you comes from Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians in Chapter 2 verses 18-23, do not forget the hope of your calling and the power in which it comes is the same as the mighty strength that raised Christ from the dead.
