JESUS SPEAKING
“I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John 10: 11-13.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
With a sea of religions out there, how can anyone know which one is true? Many people have become so confused they have thrown their hands up in frustration and discontinued their search. In this scripture Jesus identified the criteria for identifying who could be trusted. A Shepherd is someone who is charged with protecting and caring for a heard of defenseless sheep; but there are two kinds of Shepherd’s. Good shepherds care enough for the sheep to give their own lives to protect them. Evil shepherds are those who care more for themselves than their sheep, and when danger comes they abandon the sheep to save themselves. Jesus Christ gave his life out of a love for every man, woman and child who has ever lived; he is the only one who can be trusted.
God’s purity and truth are devoid of selfish motives. Whenever people see a pastor drive up to church in a 100, 000 car (not characteristic of pastors) some of us may might feel a seed of anger kindled within our hearts, because we know that God’s Son has been misrepresented. Whenever we hear about a war being fought in God’s name, we may wonder why those who promote the war live in luxury. When we see someone on television wearing a ten thousand dollar suite, asking for money, it can cause some to see God as some kind of a joke. When we see the leader of some cult using his position to acquire wives and material wealth from the members, it creates anger in our hearts. God’s true message comes only from those who have sacrificed their lives for others. Instead of taking they have given. None of the so called prophets have ever done anything personal for me, or for you, with the exception of Jesus Christ. He spent his life serving others, even those considered too dirty to associate with. He always spoke the truth; he always loved, even those who despised him. He healed the sick and the lame, and made sinners clean. He loved children. He stood up for the weak, and was an enemy to those who sought to use God for their own benefit. He sought to save life and preserve it rather than taking it by promoting violence and war. He never pushed anyone away, and gave to the people, rather than taking from them. His last act was to wash the dirty feet of his disciples. He wept for the lost. He was beaten and his beard was pulled from his face in front of his mother. He was mocked and had his back torn open by a whip. He was spit on and ridiculed. He had a crown of thorns thrust upon his head (thorns were 1-3 inches long.) He carried a cross, and had spikes driven through his hands and feet. He was raised up in the hot sun, with no water. The religious leaders stood at the base of the cross and teased him, and his response was, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Lastly, this was not a fate he had to endure, but one he willingly suffered for everyone, even those who mocked him. His life was devoid of selfishness to the point of death; and that purity, goodness and sacrifice make Jesus Christ the only true messenger of God.
It’s difficult to trust people today; it seems as though everyone wants something from us. Many people will even pretend they care just to get close enough to exploit us for their own purposes. But in a world full of religions founded by people, who sacrificed very little, one founder stands above the rest; his name is Jesus Christ, and he sacrificed his life so you could live. Can you trust him today? He is the only one who as ever loved you with a pure heart? Will you accept his love and his message as God’s truth today?
“Heavenly Father, we ask You today that You would allow us all to see the truth. We pray that You will reveal to us, who is trustworthy, and who is not. Please reveal to us, who has cared for us and loved us as his own, and who has not. Lord Father, reveal to us the truth of Your Love, and the truth of Your wisdom in this world around us. May we all see Your Son and be drawn to do good, in the same way he has done good for us. Please give us the Spirit of Truth, and let us not be afraid to examine other supposed Sheppard’s as we know only one is worthy. Father we Love You, and we thank You, and we ask that You would continue to build our faith in Your Son, and bring us closer to You, and to Your Kingdom. We thank You Father, and we praise You, and we ask all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God Bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 