Daily Bread 2010 - John 10
Daily Bread 2010 - John 10
The Shepherd and His Flock
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 is one of my favorite verses in the whole bible. So many people think Christianity is so boring, or Jesus came to take away all of our fun. Nicky Gumbel in the Alpha Course quotes Alice Cooper, the one big time rocker, who converted to Christianity. In an interview Cooper said, “If you want to be really radical become a Christian.” Cooper told HM he answers his critics: "'I was one thing at one time, and I'm something new. I'm a new creature now. Don't judge Alice by what he used to be. Praise God for what I am now.'"
Jesus says in this passage many so called shepherds will look to get you to follow them, but they come only to steal and destroy. In fact, that is Satan’s strategy, he wants to steal and destroy God’s flock. It can start in a subtle manner, like a little disobedience here or there, but as Paul says, “Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.”
And, of course, the secret is to stay close to our Good Shepherd. When you come to know Christ personally, he puts the Holy Spirit inside you. The Holy Spirit reminds you of Jesus’ teachings and warns you if you are going off the path. Some have said, “He is like that little warning light in your car that goes off and unless you attend to it you are going to be in trouble.”
The more and more we read the bible and obey it, we begin to know the Word (mind, rationality) of God, which Jesus came to show us through his life. As we know God’s Word intellectually and experientially, we begin to recognize error and falsehood more quickly. We see so much error on TV and on the internet and some of the things they promote (ie. immorality and cheating). I heard of a new internet networking site where you can be anonymous and defame other people, and no one will know who you are, and others join in on conversation and do the same. How sad is that?
But sadly many Christians get sucked in and are not listening to the Shepherd’s voice. As Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal and destroy, but I have come to give life and life abundantly.” As you navigate life, may you more and more get to know Jesus and His voice. And may he lead you into the joy and beauty of abundant life, and may you have it to the full!
Jesus our Good Shepherd, help us to hear your voice and enter through the gate that leads us to eternal life. We also know you want us to have the eternal kind of life that comes as we are led by your still, small voice. In a world of many other voices out there, help us to hear your voice and follow. Protect us from the thief who wishes only to steal and destroy, in Your name we pray, Amen.
The Shepherd and His Flock
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 is one of my favorite verses in the whole bible. So many people think Christianity is so boring, or Jesus came to take away all of our fun. Nicky Gumbel in the Alpha Course quotes Alice Cooper, the one big time rocker, who converted to Christianity. In an interview Cooper said, “If you want to be really radical become a Christian.” Cooper told HM he answers his critics: "'I was one thing at one time, and I'm something new. I'm a new creature now. Don't judge Alice by what he used to be. Praise God for what I am now.'"
Jesus says in this passage many so called shepherds will look to get you to follow them, but they come only to steal and destroy. In fact, that is Satan’s strategy, he wants to steal and destroy God’s flock. It can start in a subtle manner, like a little disobedience here or there, but as Paul says, “Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.”
And, of course, the secret is to stay close to our Good Shepherd. When you come to know Christ personally, he puts the Holy Spirit inside you. The Holy Spirit reminds you of Jesus’ teachings and warns you if you are going off the path. Some have said, “He is like that little warning light in your car that goes off and unless you attend to it you are going to be in trouble.”
The more and more we read the bible and obey it, we begin to know the Word (mind, rationality) of God, which Jesus came to show us through his life. As we know God’s Word intellectually and experientially, we begin to recognize error and falsehood more quickly. We see so much error on TV and on the internet and some of the things they promote (ie. immorality and cheating). I heard of a new internet networking site where you can be anonymous and defame other people, and no one will know who you are, and others join in on conversation and do the same. How sad is that?
But sadly many Christians get sucked in and are not listening to the Shepherd’s voice. As Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal and destroy, but I have come to give life and life abundantly.” As you navigate life, may you more and more get to know Jesus and His voice. And may he lead you into the joy and beauty of abundant life, and may you have it to the full!
Jesus our Good Shepherd, help us to hear your voice and enter through the gate that leads us to eternal life. We also know you want us to have the eternal kind of life that comes as we are led by your still, small voice. In a world of many other voices out there, help us to hear your voice and follow. Protect us from the thief who wishes only to steal and destroy, in Your name we pray, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment