The Good Shepherd

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JESUS SPEAKING

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd.” (John 10: 11 – 14)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Sheep are helpless animals that have no natural defenses. They rely entirely on the shepherd for protection. According to Jesus, the presence of genuine love cannot be fully discerned in the absence of sacrifice. Risking one’s own life to protect something important proves ownership and affection for that thing. In love, Jesus Christ laid down His life for countless numbers of men and women.

In 2022 a deranged man entered a Uvalde elementary school and began shooting students; eventually killing 21 people. What makes this terrible tragedy unique is that armed police officers arrived on the scene almost immediately (at 11:35 am), but did not enter the besieged classrooms at that time. Instead, they gathered around the parameter and did nothing while children were dying. In fact, they waited an entire 1 hour and 15 minutes before entering the room to kill the gunman (at 1:50 pm.) Simply put, they failed to act because their children weren’t in the affected classrooms. They were someone else’s kids. Around the same time, an off duty Customs and Boarder Patrol agent named Jacob Albarado was at a barbershop when he received the news about the active school shooting. Unlike the other officers, his daughter was attending the school, and his wife was a teacher there. The unarmed man borrowed a shotgun from his barber and raced to the school. He entered without hesitation and found his wife, whom he evacuated to safety. He then entered several classrooms until he found his daughter; she and her classmates were immediately evacuated. Jacob accomplished these tasks because his wife and daughter belonged to him. His love was genuine. (Note: this message is in no way meant to impugn good law enforcement officers around the world; as there are many.)

In the same way, Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd. He loves us because we belong to Him. He has proven His affections for us by sacrificing Himself upon the cross for our salvation. May we then, as His sheep, live in such a way as to please Him, and may we remain obedient to His will at all times.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for the love You have shown us through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we intimately know You and be driven to accomplish Your will in this place. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

God’s Timing

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JESUS SPEAKING

The brothers of Jesus tried to goad Him into going up to the Feast of Tabernacles before He was ready. He responded by saying, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” (John 7: 6 – 9)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

When Jesus’ brothers attempted to manipulate Him into doing something before God’s ordained time, He rebuked them. He later attended the Feast of Tabernacles in secret, prior to publicly revealing Himself in the temple. It seems that all of God’s plans are perfectly timed and beautifully orchestrated. Thus, implementing God’s will requires great patience and unwavering trust.

In the Old Testament, while leading the Israelites through the desert, Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the 10 commandments. He was gone for a total of 40 days and 40 nights. The Jews encamped near the base of the mountain lost patience. Believing Moses was dead and not coming back, their faith in God waivered. They demanded Aaron create God’s they could see with their own eyes. In response, Aaron took their jewelry, melted it down, and made a golden calf; which they began to worship. Moses returned in anger and destroyed the Idol. He also punished those responsible. The Jews then turned their worship back to God. Moses ascended the mountain again and returned with the 10 commandments.

God’s timing is always perfect. Those who trust in the Lord’s promises must be ready to accomplish His will at any given time. We must show great patience and listen to the Holy Spirit as it directs our steps. May we know the will of God in every situation and never lose faith in the Lord’s plan.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we trust in Your plan for our lives. Give us the patience we need to wait upon Your promises. May we never lose faith in what you have ordained. All of Your ways are good and true. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.” God bless all of you!

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

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JESUS SPEAKING

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9: 26)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

When Jesus returns He will gather up every faithful soul. Only those who chose to spread the gospel message will inherit eternal glory. Individuals who failed to practice evangelism will be rejected. Without question, there is a measure of shame in everything that we keep secret, including our faith.

In 1921, years before becoming President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosavelt contracted polio; a virus that left him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Although bound to a wheelchair, Roosavelt thought that American voters in the 1930’s and 1940’s would view a severely disabled leader as weak or unfit to handle the presidency. And so, with the help of the media and his inner circle, he successfully kept his condition a secret. To accomplish this task, he mastered the art of standing with heavy steel braces, holding onto an aide’s arm, or appearing behind podiums to trick observers into thinking he was recovering or able to walk.

Like President Roosavelt, the things we are ashamed of are also the things that we hide from the world. If we keep our faith in Christ hidden and avoid evangelism, then we are ashamed of the gospel. Let each of us strive to share our faith with others, and to be confident in the message we have been tasked with delivering to our fellows.

“Lord heavenly Father, may we surrender our lives to You. May we share the message we have been given with those who are unsaved, that they also might come to believe in You, as we have. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You. And we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!