5-1-22 Devotion Luke 6:27-28 Hope For Everyone
Luke 6:27-28 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Proverbs 24:17-18 – Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.
God has assured that a day of recompense for the evil will come. Though they may hide or bury their fear, let us dread that day for them. They are those who hide their eyes and cover their ears lest they see the light and hear the truth. Let us have for them the fear of God that they should have, because we know what the inevitable future that awaits those who reject Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let us fear as they should fear and truly pray for them with Godly love. Perhaps their hardened hearts will break and they will repent. What a joyous day that will be. A day of glory and honor to Him who does not wish for any person to perish. (Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, Ezekiel 3:18-21)
We must love those who have chosen to reject eternal life. We must love those who love their sin and who rage against God. Cry for them. Pray that they stop running to their current destiny, that they stop and love God. Pray that they truly love God by coming to Him through Jesus our Savior and Lord. Pray for them. Love God for them. We who walk with God will have hope for them, the hope they should have. Yet our love and hope for Him does not save them by and of itself, but perhaps their hearts will change. We all have family and friends who don’t love Jesus. The Lord loves even those who raise their fist at Him. For now, He offers them the hand of peace and love, till the day they die.
God is good all the time and He loves us. This is true and immutable. Oh how we love our God in whom we have hope! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion John 10:7-18 The One Door Part 4
John 10:7-18 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.”
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Clearly Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the One who loves the Sheep because they are His own. He is the Creator and so all the sheep exist because of His hand and His love. He created them, He covered their sin, from the Garden of Eden until the present day and forever. In Genesis God speaks of Himself in the plural during creation. At creation He states “Let us” at the making of mankind. (Genesis 1:26) When speaking of the consequence of the sin of man the Lord God once again spoke of Himself in the plural “us.” (Genesis 3:22) John 1:1-3 clearly states that’s Jesus was with God and was God “In the beginning.” So the sheep are His creation. However among the sheep are both those who belong to Him and those who do not. Those who did not belong to Him are those who by the means of His gift to them of free will, chosen not to love, believe in, and follow Him. (John 3:18, 36) But oh, the marvelous truth is that He is the “Good” Shepherd and the boundaries of His goodness are unlimited. How sad that those who reject Jesus as Savior and Lord will never know the unlimited love of Jesus for us. They only perceive what their limited unsaved minds can conceive. But for those who love the Lord Jesus, and respond to the call to serve Him, His goodness is perceived as an endless horizon, seen and never fully grasped. Oh how good is Jesus to all, and especially to those who love Him and acknowledge who He is.
“12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” Previously in V10:1 Jesus speaks of a thief and a robber who enters the sheepfold not through the gate. They cannot enter through the gate because they do not belong among the sheep. They are among the sheep not out of love but for nefarious reasons, to harm and kill them. (V10:10) Now Jesus is speaking of a hired hand and that person is different than the thief and robber. The hired hand has been hired to take care of the sheep and while the seas are smooth does what he is being paid for. But when the seas turn rough, or deadly, he abandons ship to protect himself without a care for the sheep. He is the babysitter who runs out of a house on fire and leaves behind the baby in the crib. This is a disreputable person who does not love those he is hired to protect and who, in fact, cares nothing for them. He is there for himself and not for his charges. This definitely applies to those who pastor as a job and not from the deep love of Christ flowing through them. The hired man needs another place to earn his wages. He does not love the flock and he does not love the one to whom the flock belongs. Clearly we need to beware a wolf hunting among the flock, and also the thief and robber, but we should not trust the hired hand to do what he is unwilling to do.
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Those who belong to Him recognize Him as the one and only. We know Him because He first knew and loved us. (1 John 4:19) Those who know Him as Lord and Master, as the only way for salvation, have received a full measure of His love and grace. We see Him smiling at us, His smile stops us in our tracks, and we want to be with the one who smiles at us. He has the ability to save us and keep us. Thank you Jesus! Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion Apostles Creed Always True – It’s All About Jesus
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven;
He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
Oh how I love the Lord. No love greater, or sweeter, more powerful or everlasting. Praise God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!
Happy Resurrection Day Brothers and Sisters! He indeed is risen!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob with
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Devotion John 1:1 It’s All About Jesus
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 20:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He came for us. He lived for us. He died for us. He rose for us. He ascended for us. For us, for all of us. Even for the ones who reject Him and defame Him. Yes for those too. For you and me no matter what is your relationship with Him He predestined all of us to receive His blessings, if we would. Read the Bible to know more.
Here is something disturbing. He willingly and of His own volition, from His love for us, did all these things for us. All He asks is for our love and to live out that love. No matter what anyone says, that is the whole of it. (Matthew 22:34-40) Read this verse and pray for understanding, this is the whole of it. So He left His home to come to save us from death to eternal life. He lived a perfect life to fulfill His destiny. He died a horrible death for us. By the might of God (Acts 13:30, Galatians 1:1, Romans 8:11), who He is, He raised Himself from death. (John 10:18) After completing all He needed to do on earth, He ascended back to from where He came. Miracle after miracle, proof of His great love after proof of His great love. If He asked us to die for Him it would be His to ask. Yet He doesn’t ask us to die for Him, He asks us to live for Him. And not to live alone, but with Him and He will help us all along the way. In fact, we should not in any way rely upon ourselves to live with and for Him, but to trust Him to take care of it all. He has given to us all we need to live for Him. (2 Peter 1:3) Family and Friends it really does come down to receiving His love and in return loving Him. We will live for Him if we love Him. (John 14:15)
He made it so simple for us. Yet we manage to complicate it. So do we, do any of us, fully live for Him? And just to prove how He has made a sure path He even made the way to be forgiven for the times we mess up, because He knew we would (1 John 1:9) So what is the calling for every person born? It is to love Jesus with all that we are and live out that love. I know, I know, so many will say “yeah but.” But loving Jesus is the whole answer. No “yeah buts” If we love the Son we have the love of the Father. If we love the Son we do not grieve and blaspheme the Spirit. Love Jesus and trust God to complete the work. And He will, if we let Him. He will if we love Jesus. How wonderful our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful our God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion 1 Peter 5:7 Our Ubiquitous Keeper
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Psalm 147:3 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 4:16 “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
A few minutes ago I saw a short video with a little girl reaching up to her daddy to pick her up, and of course he did. The message was to enjoy them now because tomorrow is not promised. You know when “she” was born I loved her, but was afraid to love her too much because not too long ago my heart was broken and it was so painful I didn’t want to ever experience that pain again. I told my wife that I was afraid to love this new precious. I thought that because of her I would be hurt deeply again. Of course I got over that and she owns my heart. But I had been right. My heart is breaking. So I began to weep deeply. Already I miss her due to the impending parting. I asked “Lord please tell me if it’s your will. If it’s your will I know it will be okay.” Then our gracious Lord spoke into my heart. He let me know it is His will and so instantly stopped the weeping. I trust God who has proven Himself to me. I love Him who I know. I trust the Lord who keeps my heart. I trust God because I know Him. I truly know Him so I truly love and trust Him. He is my hope. Oh Lord, I trust you. Thank you!
Trust God when it seems that the most difficult things are happening. We don’t trust in circumstances, or people, or idols held in deep spots of the heart. Only our trust in the Lord matters. Most important is to know Him more every day and then He is seen in the days of life. Others, even those who should know better, will say that no-one sees God. But Jesus has torn down the veil that concealed. (1 Corinthians 3:16) We see God. We see His hand work for us. Because we know Him our faith in Him grows and then we learn the meaning of Him working all things together for those who love Him. I say this from experience. (Romans 8:28) I know Him so I love and trust Him. I hope all of you also do. Love God. Draw near to Him. Then you will know how He has and does reveal Himself. Tears may come but He will be your comfort through each one. He, and only Him, is enough. Our God is so good. Let’s cling to Him! Praise our God and Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withWarning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /homepages/4/d182552187/htdocs/b4g/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php on line 399
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Devotion John 10:7-18 The One Door Part 4
John 10:7-18 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.”
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
“So you follow Jesus? Why do you do that? If you can give me one good reason I will give my life to Him.”
“Well, He is my shepherd that loves me and takes care of me. He leads to areas of blessings and He watches over me on every path. He provides food, blessing and cool drink for me. He gives me a safe place to rest, and keeps guard over me during the night. I have no fear at night because He stands guard over me. Really I am in peace.”
“Before I knew Him as my Shepherd, before He took over as my Savior, my Guardian and my Master I had fear about my eternal future. No I sleep in deep peace and rest without worry.”
“Previously I trusted only on the goodness of mankind and the system of mankind in the world. I had fears of my future and confusion on where and how to walk. I worried about the things of life. Really, I had no security but myself and honestly I often thought about how insufficient I was in so many ways. Really, disaster who had my name on his list, I was powerless against. Sure, no one knew I worried. I didn’t look afraid. But I was both. I was ripe for the picking by evil. That was a scary thought I just tried to avoid thinking about.”
The Good Shepherd gave me the message of loving me and taking care of me. He said to follow Him and my future would be safe. So I did and you know all His promises? Day by day He has shown He is faithful in every way. He loved me before I knew Him and He proves it to me every day as His blessings are fresh every morning. And what is crazy, this physically invisible Shepherd lets me see Him every day and has taught me to hear His voice. So when He says He died for me, more and more I know that is true because more and more I know who and what He is. I trust Him more and more. I now know without a doubt He loves me and is absolutely trustworthy. I am not afraid. I’m not worried. He is always with me and taking care of me. Always. I live in peace. For me, trusting the Good Shepherd is absolutely the best and only way to live.”
“Father God has always known the Son and the Son has always known Him and the Son is my Shepherd. The Son not only would die for me but He already has. That’s why I love and serve the Shepherd who has, before I was born, loved and served me. Let men choose to live as they decide. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
“So do you want to give your life to the Good Shepherd?”
“Well, you cheated, you gave me more than one reason! Let’s talk about it some more. I feel like a fish being reeled in.”
“Okay, let’s see if the Fisher of Men, who is the Good Shepherd, can finish reeling you.
“I think I like that, let’s do that.”
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withWarning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /homepages/4/d182552187/htdocs/b4g/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php on line 399
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Devotion John 10:7-18 The One Door Part 3
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The thief doesn’t love you, he only wants you. He only wants you to destroy you because Jesus loves you. The thief is the devil and all his emissaries. The problem is not that in various ways the enemy overwhelms us with his strength, but that we open the door and welcome him in. We too often seek the enemy thinking that what he claims to offer will make us happy. (1 John 2:15) Choosing money and the things we think it brings rather than choosing the Lord who does bring what our hearts and soul truly cry out for is a deadly poison. (Proverbs 14:12) The enemy comes to steal what belongs to God. He is a murderer whose select prey is the one who loves the Lord, but who has wandered from true love. If he cannot steal away, he will try to destroy. Destroy the peace that was gifted to us by the one who loves us. The peace is a fruit from the love of God. Peace comes as part of God’s love, but unlike the love of God which we cannot be separated from the peace of God we can be separated from. Not because He has stopped loving us and not because He has taken the dwelling of peace from us but because we have chosen other dwellings. The Lord has not evicted our souls from peace, we have decided to move it to what we think is an enticing place. We sometime think that another place, whatever it is, is more fun, more exciting or more fulfilling and we move away. Tragically sadness replaces peace. How sad to live without peace when His love surrounds us. It is not His desire for us. It is not His will. His peace and joy is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, John:15:10)
Jesus came that we may have life and that abundantly. He wants it to overflow upon and from us. (Psalm 45:7) He wants it to be overflowing upon us from head to foot. Jesus desires peace to be in our thoughts, in our feelings and in everything we eat, drink and do. How silly to turn one’s back to Him who has done everything so that love and peace would reign in our lives. And where His love and peace are His joy also is. We want to be happy and we want to laugh. It starts with His love and peace where His joy becomes our strength. (Psalm 126:2-3) Pure love, peace and joy is ours. Since these come from our God through Jesus Christ, nothing can come between these and us. Nothing can come between God and us and nothing comes between His love and its fruits and us. Nothing, no not ever! It is only when the thief jumps the fence into our pasture because He cannot get by He who guards it, that we are vulnerable. When he jumps the fence we ought to be bleating “Jesus, help Jesus, help Jesus!” If we know Him we know He loves us eternally and He will help us. Nothing comes between Him and us. Nothing. The eternal plan is and remains to be that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for us. Nothing can change that. Nothing can steal Jesus from us. But we can reject Him. Scripture says that no one can pluck us from the hand of God, but it does not say that we cannot walk away from it. (John 10:28-29) Scripture is full of warnings to not wander away. (Hebrews 3:14, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Like a foolish child who is warned not to climb a high tree but climbs it anyhow and falls to his extreme harm, or death. (2 Timothy 1:14-15) Stay close to God who is close to us, who lives within His children. (Acts 17:27, 1 Corinthians 3:16) Naturally, we all can never not have within us the evidence of our parents. God has created us and has put Himself inside of all who respond to His love. That remains, it is ours to remain with Him because He will never leave us. Never.
Life with Jesus is overflowing with His love, peace and joy. Life in Him is inherently so. Family and Friends God has loved us before the foundations of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Let us enjoy that.
Has the thief jumped any part of the fence to hurt you, to rip at you, to try to separate you from God? Cling to Jesus. He is holding you and He will not let go so don’t you let go. He is the Treasure of treasures. Hold fast to Jesus and you will ever have Him. He is our Life. He loves us and we are a treasure to Him. Hold on to Jesus who holds onto us. Be grateful and thank Him continuously and you will know Him better and love Him more. Thank the Lord. Hold unto Jesus. Praise God always! Yes, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion John 10:7-18 The One Door Part 2
John 10:7-18 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.”
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Jesus said that all of those who love Him, who trust Him with everything that they are, can “go in and out and find pasture.” What a profound promise that is for us while we live here on earth and extends into eternity. This invaluable, exciting and powerful promise, what it really is, will sound crazy to both the unredeemed and also to those who never learned how to approach Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit. But to us who have been taught, who have learned, who listen to the loving, nurturing, indispensable Holy Spirit, do or will know the meaning of this.
It should trouble those who don’t understand the words “go in and out.” As with everything that Jesus says, He meant and means it. So considering these words, what was He talking about? Certainly He was not referring to Heaven (for this discussion, as is commonly considered, Heaven is the dwelling place of God which all who love Jesus will dwell with God). It is easy to deduce that Heaven is not what Jesus was to referring to because once in Heaven we will never walk in and out of it but shall forever dwell in the presence of God, with God. So what the pasture that we can go in and out of is not our eternal dwelling place because once there, we are forever there.
So then where is this pasture that only Jesus is the Door to, that only Jesus can open to us and that is a place that we can go in and out of? First of all it is the spiritual position of being in favor with God through Jesus. No person can enter the pasture unless in favor with God through the Savior and Master Jesus the Christ Himself “If anyone enters by me.” King David declared “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” (Psalm 23:2) King David knew and loved Jesus.
Sure for David the Lord often brought him to green pastures during his shepherding of sheep days, but it was more than that. It was a place of rest, of peace, and of companionship with the Lord. It was a place of protection, where the Lord God, the great Shepherd, protected the earthly shepherd with His “rod and staff (figuratively).” It was a place of fellowship with God and that pasture that David mentioned is still available to us. Jesus still calls to us, His sheep, to come and rest in this peaceful place and joyful places. He still calls us to the hillsides to join the multitudes of followers and be with Him. And He still calls us to the place of solitude with Him. The Holy Spirit leads, Jesus welcomes us with open arms and the Father approves and gives His peace and approval. (Matthew 11:28-30)
The pasture is a place of being with the Lord. It is when we seek and find Him and spend time with Him. We can remember being in a quiet place with the Lord and the pure peace that enters us. You see this is a place that we here on earth can be with Him for times and at all times. During a hectic day at work. When life is full we can seek and find pasture with Him at any time and at all times. No trouble and no busyness can separate us from the pasture that today, that every day, we can go in and out of the pasture. It is being wrapped in His love from which we can never be separated. (Romans 8:38-39) As David described it is the best place. It is where we long to be. We don’t need to wait till we die and go to Heaven, Jesus made it available to us now by His saving work. So if you’ve never learned how to visit the pasture, and how to live in it, pray to the Holy Spirit to lead you. He will, He is calling to you right now. He will lead you to the Door and the door will open for you. Have a time with Jesus. Stay there as long as you desire. Leave when you have to and rush back with excitement. Once you know the way, it’s your privilege. Family and Friends, enjoy the presence of God today, it is part of God’s plan for us. Praise our God, our Shepherd and Door, praise God. Oh how good to lay down in His pasture. To rest in Him. Oh praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion John 10:7-18 The One Door Part 1
John 10:7-18 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.”
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. Who are the sheep being referred to? Are they those who have believed in Jesus and committed to following Him? Or is He the door to all the Jews? He is the way and the opportunity. Is He the door to the world? Is He the door to all? From John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” and 2 Peter 3:9 “…not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Some have said that understanding of this verse in John is not the door “for” the sheep but “to” the sheep. Certainly it is clear that Jesus died for the whole world and so all who come, and indeed all are invited, may come to Jesus who is the door and He will open and allow all who will believe and obey to come through Him to step immediately out of this world and eternally into the presence and reality of God. Each step here drawing us further into the kingdom of our God, and our steps here with Jesus are just as real, right now, as the ethereal kingdom of our God to come. The eternal journey starts with the first step through the only door Jesus and the journey never ends. Now we are here and then there, but it is all just as real and just as sure. Becoming a new creature begins by coming through the door that is Jesus. The new us learns and matures throughout eternity.
“All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” There were sheep who already recognized the Door and there were sheep to come later. These sheep recognized the Shepherd’s voice when deep in their spirit they heard it. To them they came. Maybe they stumbled, maybe they were misled, but eventually they recognized and came. Jesus hold them secure to Himself.
“All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” When my wife and I were on our honeymoon, we were tired and traveling late. My wife, ever our navigator, was studying a map. She told me that she thought she saw a short cut. She showed it to me and it looked like we could cut miles off of our journey. We decided to try it. We soon found out that we were traveling a very dark road that traveled beside a stream, or little river. There were no lights on this windy road with sharp turns. It was dark. I tried not to show any nervousness, but let’s just say I was intently concentrating on the road while trying my best to show confidence so as not to alarm her. The Lord was our comfort as we, two relatively new converts, travelled the winding road. The Lord was telling us both that our journey would have dark times that could be scary but that He would always lead us to the light. His light. Suddenly we came around another dark bend and there was a large city with bright lights. Suddenly we were in the light. We profusely thanked God. Since then the Lord has always brought us through seemingly dark times into the Light. Now we know the Light is always ahead as Jesus leads. In fact the Light is with us even in the dark places and though we may not always see, we are always lead. How true that when a child of God comes to the door and walks through, He walks into a reality from which He is forever changed. How wonderful the change!
All who His have come through the door know that they have. Someone may say that they never went through the door, but all that have know the silliness of the statement, just silliness. I remember entering the land of light and wonder. I remember who called to me and let me in. He is the Shepherd and He is the Door and He is Jesus. He is the only way to the other side of the door. Thank you Jesus! Praise our Savior and Lord Jesus!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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Devotion Psalm 34:1 While You Still Have Breath
Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
“The secret is not God making much of you, it’s you making much of Him” Pastor Dan Burgoyne
““You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore until you decide to be happy.” Nightbirde, a thirty year old singer who fought cancer for many years, but succumbed to it.
1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Do yourself a favor and listen to Pastor Dan Burgoyne’s 2:16 minute podcast. Bless yourself!
https://youtu.be/NkNtIFCkyrE
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withWarning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /homepages/4/d182552187/htdocs/b4g/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php on line 399
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