Sheep feeding: the trough is in the trenches

From today's reading (3/3 "The Unrelieved Quest") in "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, I was grabbed by these thoughts:

"Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is—"Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ " . . .

If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions—I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us."

These words became volitile to me when reflected against John 15:16-17. John Piper explained in a message delivered in Augusta, GA (2001) that "God is Soveriegn and Life is War." Piper explains John 15:16-17 and the close connection with ministry to the necessity of prayer (that description does nothing for the weight of the truth): "we are chosen, sent to bear fruit for Him in order that prayer would be answered!" Our whole concept of ministry and prayer need adjustment! Extreme ministry make-over, folks!

Prayer is for war and the engagment of it, not for communicating with a grand butler who serves our comforts. The walkie-talkie of warfare does not work as an intercom to call for another pillow to ease the pains of our epicurean backsides.

Piper, "Jesus did not call believers for ministry; he calls unbelievers for war!"

Umph! Somebody help me off this floor . . .