17神生机救恩中的喂养,也包括在牧养中的喂养。在约翰二十一章十五节,主耶稣嘱咐彼得说,“你喂养我的小羊。”在十六节主对他说,“你牧养我的羊”,在十七节祂接着又说,“你喂养我的羊。”我们若不知道如何牧养,就不能喂养别人。在召会生活中,小排和活力排的主要目的,不仅是彼此照顾,更是彼此牧养。你牧养我,我牧养你。……这是相互的牧养。我们牧养别人时,应当先顾惜他们,使他们快乐,然后就要喂养他们。
17The feeding in God’s organic salvation also includes the feeding in shepherding. In John 21:15 the Lord Jesus charged Peter, saying, “Feed My lambs.” In verse 16 He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep,” and in verse 17 He went on to say, “Feed My sheep.” If we do not know how to shepherd, we will not be able to feed others. The main purpose of the small groups and the vital groups in the church life is not merely to take care of one another but to shepherd one another. You shepherd me, and I shepherd you…This is mutual shepherding. In shepherding others, we should first cherish them in order to make them happy, and then we should feed them.