KEY SCRIPTURE: “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.”

The Lord Jesus fed the multitude of over five thousand men with just five loaves and two fishes. He gathered    his disciples who left in a ship before the master. The Lord had to wait till the whole multitude had left before he finally left to pray. He could have gone, and left the multitudes to their fate, yet He did not do so. Every single individual was His concern. He esteemed others better than himself “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”   — Philippians 2:3 (KJV). There was nothing selfish about Him. This was a crowd of over five thousand, and the Lord was very patient with them all. Remember He had been deeply reflecting over John the Baptist death, yet he could easily put the whole thing behind him, and show complete love for the great crowd, even to the point of having to wait till everyone left.

The Lord by this event teaches us a great example. We ought to be one another’s keeper and be patient with one another. Every leader must not act as it pleases him or her. In John 21:15-18, the Lord after His resurrection appeared to the disciples at a beach, after they had all gone fishing. The Lord asked Peter on three occasions, if he loved Him. On each of them, after Peter had responded, Lord you know I love you, he said feed my lambs or my sheep. What is the Lord expressing here? He is saying that by expressing true love for the flock of God, then we really love Him. The flock of God are His great concern. When any man in the name of leading the people of God manipulates them, and uses them to obtain what he is longing for, then he is really hurting the Lord. Every pastor must sincerely love the flock of God.

Apostle Peter taking a clue from the lesson the Lord taught him said the following, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” -1 Peter 5:2 (KJV), As much as Christian leaders must truly love the flock, each one of us must love one another, with a true brotherly love. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”- John 13:34 (KJV).  He added that in this way will all men know that we are His disciples. Love works no ill to his neighbour for love is the fulfilling of the law. Our Lord truly showed real love towards all. He demonstrated His love for all humanity by giving His life to die for us

CONFESSION

The Lord has shed His love in my heart. I see one another as Christ representative, and love them as I would love the Lord himself.

FURTHER STUDIES

 John 15:13 (KJV). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

 John 15:12 (KJV). “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”