Blind or Beholding?
“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺—
‘𝘛𝘪𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺.”

𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
“𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯,
𝘈 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘯.”

𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩
“𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦,
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦.”

We may say we love Christ, sing our devotion, and attend church faithfully—but Jesus asks deeper: “Lovest thou me?” It is easy to confess love for the Shepherd while overlooking the sheep beside us. Whether busy in ministry or focused on ourselves, the question is not just if we love Christ—but if that love moves us to care for those He loves.

In 🕮 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟐𝟏:𝟏𝟕, Jesus asked Peter three times, “𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦?… 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱.” Each time, love was linked to responsibility for His people. Jesus did not ask about gifts, followers, or success—only, “Lovest thou me?” followed by the command to care for His sheep. Love for Christ is not shown by words alone, but by faithful care for those who belong to Him.

A shepherd does not love his sheep from a distance. He walks with them, feeds them, watches them, protects them, and carries the weak. So it is with believers: we do not love Christ by ignoring His people; we love Him by tending to their needs, their wounds, and helping them grow in the Word.

Scripture ties love to shepherding. “𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱” (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟐𝟏:𝟏𝟕). “𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬… 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥” (𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝟐𝟎:𝟐𝟖). “𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥… 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺” (𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓:𝟐). “I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them” (𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟐𝟑:𝟒). We do not care for people to earn love; we care because we are loved.

But feeding sheep requires giving them truth, not just attention. A starving sheep needs nourishment, not empty words. We must avoid feeding only what people want to hear while withholding what their souls need. “𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥” (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟒:𝟒). Don’t offer spiritual cotton candy—sweet to taste, but unable to nourish.

Before Christ commanded Peter to feed His sheep, He first fed us with His own life. He gave Himself as the Good Shepherd who “𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱” (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟎:𝟏𝟏). Through His death, burial, and resurrection (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟓:𝟑–𝟒), He secured our salvation and gathered us into His fold. We care for His people because Christ first cared for us, feeding our wandering souls with grace.

Yet the question still reaches us today: “𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦?” It is not answered by songs, sermons, or words alone. Who around us is spiritually hungry, discouraged, or weary? We need Christ not just to give us people to care for, but because He is the Good Shepherd who teaches us to love His sheep. If we love Him, we cannot ignore His sheep. Feed, strengthen, and love them as Christ loved us.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, forgive our self-focused faith. Thank You for Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us. Give us tender, compassionate hearts to care for Your people, feeding and protecting the flock with sacrificial love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day!
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝...
_____________________________________________________
All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible.
Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day…

If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling:
FREE FlipBook Previews:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html
Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback)
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso

Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you.
Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app

Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world.
May God bless you more abundantly…

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥.
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘥.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘴,
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦.”

𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
“𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦;
𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦.”

We often treat spiritual growth as a solitary pursuit. We read our Bibles alone, pray in secret, and wonder why our faith feels stagnant and brittle. But Christian growth is personal; it was never meant to be isolated. Whether we are growing in knowledge, stability, or grace, the question is not whether we are rooted in Christ—but whether we are helping others grow rooted with us.

Paul writes in 🕮 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐:𝟔–𝟕, “𝘈𝘴 𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘺𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮: 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩…” Receiving Christ is not the journey’s end—it is the start of new life. Believers are called to walk in Him, be rooted, built up, and established in faith. Maturity is not just knowing more, but being firmly grounded in Christ.

A single tree may stand alone, but a forest withstands storms as its roots grow together, strengthening the soil. Likewise, believers are not meant to grow alone. God places us in a church to learn, encourage, correct, pray, and strengthen one another. Roots deep in Christ help others stand firm when storms shake them.

Scripture teaches spiritual growth is a shared responsibility: “𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳” (𝟏 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟓:𝟏𝟏), “𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳” (𝐇𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝟏𝟎:𝟐𝟒), “Bear ye one another's burdens” (𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟔:𝟐), “𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺” (𝐇𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟑), and speak “𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦” for the body to “𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮” (𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟒:𝟏𝟓). Spiritual maturity isn’t just about church participation, but about growing through faithful edification.

Growth does not happen by accident. We cannot grow merely by hearing the Word occasionally while remaining disconnected from Christ. We must continue in Him. “𝘈𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘺” (𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐:𝟐). Do not mistake spiritual information for spiritual transformation. We do not grow to be seen; we grow because we are saved.

Before we could ever grow in Christ, He gave us life first. We were dead in sin, but through His death, burial, and resurrection according to the Scriptures (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟓:𝟑–𝟒), He secured salvation for believers. Christ is not just our growth example—He is our life source. He said, “𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨” (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟓:𝟓). Apart from Him, there is no true growth; in Him, we are rooted and established.

Are you growing deeper in Christ, or merely growing older in church? And as God strengthens you, who are you helping to stand? You do not need Christ merely to help you become a better believer—you need Him because He is the root and source of the life you are called to grow in. Stay rooted in Christ. Keep walking in Him. And as your roots grow deeper, help someone else stand stronger.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, forgive our spiritual isolation. Thank You for planting us in Christ. Bind our hearts together in love, that we may grow deeply rooted, supporting one another in faith, and bearing fruit for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day!
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝...
_____________________________________________________
All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible.
Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day…

If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling:
FREE FlipBook Previews:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html
Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback)
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso

Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you.
Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app

Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world.
May God bless you more abundantly…