Devotion: Yes, Lord!
Please take the time to read John 21:15-19
Pastor Greg began his Mother’s Day sermon by saying he originally wondered if the doubting Thomas scripture was going to work with the holiday. He thought perhaps there had been a mistake in assigning that scripture for that weekend. (I smiled to myself listening to him talk because there is a little irony in doubting the doubting Thomas scripture. However, as it turned out, two doubts equaled a great sermon on faith, love, and – ironically enough when looking at this week’s scripture – the importance of asking questions.)
Not so for me when I first read this Sunday’s scripture and realized it was the weekend our church was dedicating our new Outreach Center. I thought it was perfect!
But first Bishop Scott Johnson’s sermon. I loved it!
Listening to Bishop Scott Johnson tell the story, I could picture the quietness of the conversation between Jesus and Peter. Peter had really messed up but there wasn’t screaming and yelling. This was next level serious. Even so, Jesus had already forgiven Peter before asking the first question and his questions were perhaps intended to help Peter forgive himself. Peter was anxious as Jesus repeatedly questioned his love for Him, and almost defeated when he finally replies, and maybe even whispers, “Lord, you know everything…”. As Bishop Johnson pointed out, those four words say so much.
And while I believe this may very well reflect the context of this conversation, that’s not what I heard when I read it in relationship to our new Outreach Center being dedicated.
I pictured God saying to the Sheridan community several years ago as financial decisions regarding the future of the church were being made, “Do you love me?” And we cheerily replied “Yes, you know we do.” And he said, “Be prepared to feed my sheep by creating a Readiness Fund.” And we did!
Later, he said again, “Do you love me?” And we joyfully replied, “Yes, you know that we do.” And he said, “Use that Readiness Fund to tend my sheep in your Sheridan community, in your Lincoln community and all around the world.” And we have!
And he has said again, “Do you love me?” And again, we have replied not out of a sense of defeat but in praise, “Yes, you know everything, you know we do.” And He said, “Feed my sheep by building a new Outreach Center that will be of service to quilters, Boy Scouts, the Food Bank, small groups, service organizations, and so many more of my children in ways you have not yet imagined.” And we have!
And God continually says to us “Follow me and I will hold on to you.” And we will!
Good, Gracious and Generous God,
May our new Outreach Center continually reflect our love for you and be a blessing to our Sheridan community, our Lincoln community and communities around the world. Let those that are impacted by this new building feel Your love, appreciate Your generosity and recognize the beauty of what You have created.
Amen
Written by Dacia Kruse
Dacia lives in Lincoln. She is a lobbyist and mediator through The Mediation Center where she primarily works with parents who are separating and trying to figure out how to co-parent their kids.
She has been a member of Sheridan since the late 1990’s and is new to the Sheridan Church Council. She regularly attends Theology Roundtable and serves on a Saturday evening hospitality team, the Sunday morning Welcome Center team and as a Wedding Coordinator. In her free time, she likes to read, travel, shop and decorate her house.