Tag: John 10:27-28
The Good Shepherd!
Scripture reading for November 4th: John 10
Key Scriptures: John 10:14-18 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
Jesus further revealed His identity to His disciples by using the metaphor of the ‘Good Shepherd’ and a willingness to lay His life down for the sake of the sheep. A good shepherd trains the sheep to know his voice and follow him. A good shepherd takes care of all his sheep, and Jesus had other sheep, the Gentiles, that He would also lay His life down for. Jesus also had authority from the Father to lay His life down as a part of the plan of salvation for lost sinners (sheep) and He also had authority because of a sinless life and perfect obedience to take His life back up again in resurrection power by the Spirit of Holiness. (Romans 1:4) This was all given by the Father to His Son because He loved Him (and us)! We are eternally safe in His amazing care.
John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
Faith Confession and prayer: Father God, Your amazing plan of salvation through sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to lay His life down for me, a sinner, is humbling and beyond full understanding. Jesus’ death and resurrection from the grave is also amazing and exciting because He is alive forever and ever! I receive eternal life and will never perish and the fear of death has been forever vanquished! Open doors that I might share this Good News today!
Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”
A “GPS” is a “must have” for 2009!
Greetings! The men of my church blessed me with a “Tom-Tom” GPS and I am so amazed at what it can do! I can put in an address that I don’t know how to find, and it will plot a route there and then talk me through the route, telling me when to turn and which way. If I make a mistake, it will get me back on track, or calculate an alternative route that will still get me to my destination! It will also get me back home!
I was thinking about this when I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to me about how He helps me each day! He is “God’s Positioning System”–“GPS!” He takes the Scriptures and helps me in several ways. He helps me focus on the right path to arrive at my ultimate destination–Heaven! He speaks to me each day giving me directions along my path and when I make a wrong turn, He gently helps me find an alternate route! I am never out of range of His powerful positioning guidance. He knows the latest updates on road and traffic conditions and all the obstacles to my progress! He can get me home each trip!
We must remember a few things when using our “GPS.” We must keep it “charged” and “on” every time we go out! We must listen for the directions and follow–they are never wrong with God! We must always set our “home” address as “Heaven”–we’re just traveling through here on earth! If you faithfully follow your “GPS”, you’ll always know where you’re at and be able to find your way home! In His Love, Pastor John
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.'” Isaiah 30:21; “My Sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them from my hand.” John 10:27-28