Eastertide
April 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19

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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt 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. –John 21:15-17

Jesus’ constant challenges to us as his disciples is “What are your priorities?” A lot of us probably muddle through life doing the everyday things of living without a lot of thought to our priorities. For priorities to really work they must become habits. It is interesting to me the habits I have that I have no difficultly practicing religiously and the ones that I can drop without a moment’s notice. Apparently the act of doing things repetitiously does not always create a habit. Childhood is when most of our true habits are formed. When I was a child, teeth flossing was not in vogue so when the dentist first told me to add it to my routine, it did not come easily. I still have to be intentional about teeth flossing. Although if I have not brushed my teeth by ten o’clock in the morning, my mouth begins to feel dirty.

In our busy world we have consistently to carve out time to spend with God and that includes touching base with God routinely throughout the day. Our being in synch with God drives the way we treat those about us. Jesus’ priority as described here in his discourse with Peter is that we are to nurture each other as he has nurtured us and is nurturing us still, when we open our being to him.

What are our priorities? Where do we invest our time, talent, and treasure? Identifying that will help us see the priorities we are actually following. Are they the priorities we would name as our priorities? If not, does our list of priorities need to change or our lives? What can we do today to bring our priorities into synch with God’s?

Prayer: Lord, help me see clearly the priorities I am living. If they are not in line with your priorities guide me to the right path. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.