John 10:7-13
…so he explained it to them.
“I
am the Gate for the sheep,” he said. “All others who came before me
were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
Yes, I am the Gate. Those who come in by way of the Gate will be saved
and will go in and out and find green pastures. The thief’s purpose is
to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its
fullness.
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down
his life for the sheep. A hired man will run when he sees a wolf coming
and will leave the sheep, for they aren’t his and he isn’t their
shepherd. And so the wolf leaps on them and scatters the flock. The
hired man runs because he is hired and has no real concern for the
sheep.
The Living Bible
copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
A few years ago, my mother-in-law came over
for dinner one spring evening. As she left, Greg and I walked her out
onto our porch and toward her car, which was parked just a few feet away
on our driveway. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of
something. I looked over and saw what turned out to be a
more-than-five-foot-long rat snake wound around the base of our wrought
iron lantern. I promptly screamed and ran back inside the house –
leaving Greg and his mother standing on the driveway! I was the “hired
man” who deserted his flock!
Yes, I am that afraid of snakes!
Hopefully, had I been with the little children rather than two grown
adults, I would have remained a bit more calm and ushered them to
safety. And thankfully, this big guy was relatively harmless and
slithered on his way about a half hour later…hopefully to protect our
yard from the poisonous reptiles that could actually do us some harm!
In
life, we are so often like the “hired man.” At the first sign of
trouble or controversy, we tuck tail and run. And I get that there are
times when it is appropriate to say, “Not my circus – not my monkeys.”
But there are lots of times when Jesus is calling us to trust Him…to
stay in step with Him and trust that He’s got our back. There are
moments when we must stand up and demonstrate Christian faith, love,
grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness – even when many would turn and
run.
We hear Jesus calling us to stand up for what He has
taught us…to remain calm and stand still in the presence of the snake.
And we have a choice…to remain faithful that He’s got our back and do
what He asks…or turn away – and essentially deny His sovereignty in our
lives. It’s often a tough call…I get that! But how deep IS your
faith? How much do you really trust Jesus to know better than you?
It
is time for us to stand our ground with Jesus…to take what may often be
an unpopular position as we declare Him the final authority in our
lives – and our every thought and action. The end results will be
amazing…of that I am certain. And I’m all in…what about you?
Will
this be the day that you stand firmly behind Jesus…or scream and run
away from the “snakes” of this world? Who is your good Shepherd…and do you
really know Him? Isn’t it time you did?
© Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label Good Shepherd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Shepherd. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 8, 2011
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent episode of Project Runway, a contestant lost her money for materials somewhere in the fabric store. She had nothing to purchase her fabric, thread and other materials with… and her advisor said, “You can use muslin from the workroom.” Muslin is a very plain, unbleached cotton material… usually used for linings and to shape a garment – not as actual fabric. The contestant was crying and upset, and another contestant who did not spend all of his money gave her what he had left… $11 and some change.
The contestant took the money and bought a little fabric and a zipper. Then she dyed muslin and added it to her small amount of fabric to construct a garment. In the end, she won the competition for the week! Ironically, the next week, when another contestant asked if she had any leftover fabric she could share, this person lied and said she did not. “After all,” she said, “this is a competition. At this stage of the game, I don’t feel I should be helping someone else.”
I’m afraid we are often just like this contestant. We’re all about helping others when it is convenient or feels good. And surely we want God to help us when we call on Him. But once we have what we want, we’re often done. We don’t think about ministering to others and sharing with them what God has done for us. We never consider that there are people who don’t know about the love, grace and mercy of Jesus… and that we must tell them – and witness to them!
This is what I believe Jesus means when he says I have other sheep not in the pen… and I must bring them together, too. We are all in this together. We must seek out those in need and help them. We must live in such a way that any who are “not in the pen” see how God is working in and through us… and want to join us and experience a life in Christ for themselves.
Unlike Project Runway, Christian life is not a competition. The stakes are high… but not in the same way. How will you participate? Are you one of Jesus’ sheep in the pen? Are you helping Him gather others to join you by your examples and ministries? Are you striving to emulate the Good Shepherd? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent episode of Project Runway, a contestant lost her money for materials somewhere in the fabric store. She had nothing to purchase her fabric, thread and other materials with… and her advisor said, “You can use muslin from the workroom.” Muslin is a very plain, unbleached cotton material… usually used for linings and to shape a garment – not as actual fabric. The contestant was crying and upset, and another contestant who did not spend all of his money gave her what he had left… $11 and some change.
The contestant took the money and bought a little fabric and a zipper. Then she dyed muslin and added it to her small amount of fabric to construct a garment. In the end, she won the competition for the week! Ironically, the next week, when another contestant asked if she had any leftover fabric she could share, this person lied and said she did not. “After all,” she said, “this is a competition. At this stage of the game, I don’t feel I should be helping someone else.”
I’m afraid we are often just like this contestant. We’re all about helping others when it is convenient or feels good. And surely we want God to help us when we call on Him. But once we have what we want, we’re often done. We don’t think about ministering to others and sharing with them what God has done for us. We never consider that there are people who don’t know about the love, grace and mercy of Jesus… and that we must tell them – and witness to them!
This is what I believe Jesus means when he says I have other sheep not in the pen… and I must bring them together, too. We are all in this together. We must seek out those in need and help them. We must live in such a way that any who are “not in the pen” see how God is working in and through us… and want to join us and experience a life in Christ for themselves.
Unlike Project Runway, Christian life is not a competition. The stakes are high… but not in the same way. How will you participate? Are you one of Jesus’ sheep in the pen? Are you helping Him gather others to join you by your examples and ministries? Are you striving to emulate the Good Shepherd? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 25, 2011
John 10:1-6
Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd's voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow strangers. They don't recognize a stranger's voice, and they run away.
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were sharing a nice backyard fire with friends one evening, and the conversation turned to our cats. Our friends said they merely have to call, “Breakfast!” and their cat comes running from wherever he is to be fed. He knows the tone and structure of that word… he knows his master’s voice. I seriously doubt that I could get their cat to come if I uttered the same word.
Our cats hear the tinkling of a spoon on a dish in the kitchen, and they come running. They will often come to us when we call them. But let a stranger come to our house, and they run as fast as they can to a familiar hiding place and snuggle in there. They will not follow strangers… they run away and hide.
When I talk to my mom, sister, grandmother, niece, cousin, and a few of my best friends, I never have to identify myself on the telephone. They know instantly they are talking to me… they recognize my voice… and I recognize theirs. I know my husband’s voice and the voices of several others so well I can “hear” them just by calling them to mind. And you can probably do the same thing.
The question is…do we know God’s voice as well as that of our significant other, parents, family and friends? Do we recognize God when He speaks to us – and follow Him… or do we turn and run away? Are we so attuned to God’s voice that we can “hear” it by merely thinking of Him? I cannot stress enough how important it is that we recognize God when He speaks to us. We must trust Him to be our “Good Shepherd” and lead us in the right direction… and we must get in line behind Him and go along – wherever He leads.
Spend as much time as it takes getting to really know God. Get so comfortable and familiar with His voice that you know when He speaks to you. Ask Him to always lead you in the right direction… and trust Him to do so. Follow the Good Shepherd... never run away… and always answer when He calls your name.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd's voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow strangers. They don't recognize a stranger's voice, and they run away.
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were sharing a nice backyard fire with friends one evening, and the conversation turned to our cats. Our friends said they merely have to call, “Breakfast!” and their cat comes running from wherever he is to be fed. He knows the tone and structure of that word… he knows his master’s voice. I seriously doubt that I could get their cat to come if I uttered the same word.
Our cats hear the tinkling of a spoon on a dish in the kitchen, and they come running. They will often come to us when we call them. But let a stranger come to our house, and they run as fast as they can to a familiar hiding place and snuggle in there. They will not follow strangers… they run away and hide.
When I talk to my mom, sister, grandmother, niece, cousin, and a few of my best friends, I never have to identify myself on the telephone. They know instantly they are talking to me… they recognize my voice… and I recognize theirs. I know my husband’s voice and the voices of several others so well I can “hear” them just by calling them to mind. And you can probably do the same thing.
The question is…do we know God’s voice as well as that of our significant other, parents, family and friends? Do we recognize God when He speaks to us – and follow Him… or do we turn and run away? Are we so attuned to God’s voice that we can “hear” it by merely thinking of Him? I cannot stress enough how important it is that we recognize God when He speaks to us. We must trust Him to be our “Good Shepherd” and lead us in the right direction… and we must get in line behind Him and go along – wherever He leads.
Spend as much time as it takes getting to really know God. Get so comfortable and familiar with His voice that you know when He speaks to you. Ask Him to always lead you in the right direction… and trust Him to do so. Follow the Good Shepherd... never run away… and always answer when He calls your name.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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