“When they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?" John 21:1515So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15).
The moment that the Lord chose for this question appears to carry a great lesson for us. Supposing a brother goes astray and backslides a little. Do you know the way to restore him? Would you go and tell him that he has slipped away? That will not do him much good. Very likely if you were to say to him, "Brother, come and have a cup of coffee with me," and then talk to him about the Lord, that would help him.
After the seven disciples had been fishing all night and had caught nothing, Flo doubt they were cold, hungry and disappointed. What does the Lord do? He says, "Come and dine." They get both warmth and food. Do you know a spiritually cold and consequently hungry brother? Feed and warm him with spiritual food. The great thing for you and me to do is to warm him. He needs cherishing and nourishing, warmth and food. It is always put this way in Scripture. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." Eph. 5:2929For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:29). What is the meaning of nourishing and cherishing? It is food and warmth. I am quite sure if we took this way, the Lord's way, with a saint that has gone a little astray, we should do real shepherding work. If we try to get such into our homes, give them food and drink and then speak about the Lord, we then will be able to help them. We minister to their soul's need, and recover and restore them. It is a great thing to be able to restore a person, and the way in which Peter is here restored is very touching. I am fully persuaded that this story, as related by John, is given with deep intent of God for our instruction and profit. Christian Truth