The love of Jesus can do this for us, too. Every time we experience it, we want to offer something back. As John reminds us, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jesus not only wants his love to dwell in us but to flow from us. The more we surrender to his love, the more we can love him in return. And so he asks us the same question: “Do you love me?”

Saying we love Jesus isn’t quite enough, however. He has a particular call for each of us, a way he wants us to live out that love. For Peter, it was a call to leadership. Jesus named Peter the “rock,” and gave him the awesome responsibility of shepherding the entire church (Matthew 16:18). But despite his important title, Peter was simply a servant who became willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him—even to the point of giving up his life.

How is Jesus asking you to respond? It may be as a parent raising children, or as an employee called to serve co-workers. You may be a leader in ministry looking to meet the spiritual needs of God’s people, or a lay volunteer trying to reach out to the hurting and broken. Most likely, you have more than one role! Whatever your calling, Jesus asks you to feed his sheep. You can do that if you keep your heart open to receive his compassion and mercy. So ask him to help you be a generous giver of his incredible love.

“Jesus, you know that I love you. Help me to love you even more. Send me wherever you would have me, and fill me with zeal to serve your people.”

Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 103:1-2,11-12,19-20