2 Corinthians 5:11 “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”
Let’s consider that personally and individually God has chosen to know us and has revealed mysteries of Himself to us. What we have become and are becoming is obvious and plain to Him. May that always be on our minds and consciences that we may live as those who are grateful to Him and who love Him. 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 withSometimes people have told me of someone they know who is a very smart atheist. They don’t believe in God or in the Bible. If asked, and if I can, I agree to talk to most of them. You see they don’t believe in God while I don’t believe that there are true atheists. So they say there is no God but deep down they know that is a lie. They may have pushed down their belief in God and covered that truth with grass and dirt, but it is there, alive, breathing and powerful in the grave they hid it in. When they are alone, sometimes in the still of the night, they fear that it will rise from the dirt and they will have to face it, by themselves.
The fool makes the choice to convince himself to believe there is no God, or to say that they believe that. They have turned against their own God given good sense. What they know is true, what they always knew to be true, they deny and foolishly reject, all the while knowing the living buried thing. They make a conscious choice till they believe their own lie. They have intellect to know better, they must purposely and persistently and daily work hard to not keep covering what is alive and will change their lives. They keep throwing dirt but the truth kees rising. At night they can hear its voice, but they stuff their ears about the truth what is buried. What they knew and know is true. They fight this till they are overcome and repent from their lie or unto death. That is foolishness. Why should they die when the could live forever in the Truth? A stupid choice from people who reject their own intelligence to run from life and the life giver, so they die. No, God will not condemn them to eternal death, but they will insist upon it for themselves. Love and pray for these. The Lord knows that they know not what they do.
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.
Psalm 91 – One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”3 For it is He who rescues you from the net of the trapper and from the deadly plague. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall. 5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;6 Of the plague that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that devastates at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the retaliation against the wicked. 9 For you have made the Lord, my refuge, The Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will happen to you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels orders concerning you, To protect you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will lift you up, So that you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will walk upon the lion and cobra, You will trample the young lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he has loved Me, I will save him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation.”
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Oh my Lord, my God, my Love,
It is You who is my Joy.
You are my Morning Joy that wakes
Me with a smile.
And You who cause me to me to want to breathe.
Though there are some I can trust,
It is only you whom my trust rests upon.
You my Lord and God,
“It” is You, on You where my rest is abides.
You my God, You my Love, You my Rest,
Thank you my Lord!
Your voice is a sweet serenade within me,
Lord God, I am tuned to Your voice.
I live in Your promises.
My rest is in the covenant You gave to me.
In Your promises I am safe,
There, and here, with you.
They are the same in Your presence
My Lord, my God, my Brother.
Yes Lord, You are my refuge
And no harm shall overcome me.
Truly I desire Your will.
So even if it hurts,
Joy and laughter are always,
In Your will.
Whatever knocks on my door,
You have screened and filtered.
So I will rest in Your will,
Surely I gladly receive both hard and easy.
I will receive both from You,
And thank and praise You,
For what I understand
And for what I don’t understand.
I praise You my Lord, my God
For all in my life I praise You!
You are my Refuge and my Fortress,
My God in whom I trust.
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 withJohn 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.”
“Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” Jesus has related His deep connected relationship with His flock. (Vs 14-15) He knows them and they know Him. There came a time in our lives when who Jesus is as Savior and Lord became a sure knowledge that brought us out of the wild. It was indeed God who foreknew us and predestined us to become His children. (Romans 8:29) It was God who loved us and brought us to salvation. Our triune God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who from eternity past set their eye upon us and loved us. The oneness of God is essential to know. God is one in every way, they are never separated from each other and they never separate in will and action. Just as He is not separate from His word to us, just as He is one with it and so Jesus was the Word incarnate, God is one in everything and in every way. Jesus Himself came down to be our Savior but doesn’t the entirety of the Word show hand of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our salvation? All of our triune God worked in union for our salvation. All were part of the plan. Each playing a unique role and all of the one involved in each other’s unique role, though in truth, all are one though three in all. In these verses we see the oneness that Jesus brings us into. We are brought into that oneness though distinctly not being God Himself, of who there is only one (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:6) and who does not share His divinity with any man or other being. (Deuteronomy 4:39, Isaiah 42:8) Only God truly knows Himself fully. Those who reject belonging to Him cannot know Him. (1 Corinthians 2:14) We who love and serve the Lord, who call Jesus Savior and Lord, have been into the unbreakable unity and perfect love of the triune God. We know Him. (1 Corinthians 2:12) How deep the work of Christ! Praise God!
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” As the Lord loved His disciple even before they were born, so He loved us. As He had a plan for the lives of His disciples with Him, so He has a plan for ours. As He prayed for the Apostles, so He was praying for us. How great and wonderful our Lord Jesus who included us in His prayers to the Father. Into infinity past He passionately knew and loved us. In His perfect foreknowledge the reality of our future response to Him was utterly real and palpable, though He would wait for us. He was more than ready for us to come to Him, He was more delighted than parents looking upon their new born baby. Thank you Jesus! (Ephesians 1:4-5)
“So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” All who love the Lord Jesus are one. God does not look upon worldly races or cultures, He looks at the Spirit. Time is nothing to Him, the ones who first loved Him are in the same group as we who love Him now. His two great commandments are first to love Him with all that we are and second to love each other as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:29-31) Even to consider each other and to love each other before ourselves. (Philippians 2:3) If we all love each other in this way that we have been commanded to love then His will is done. (1 John 4:12) In Matthew Jesus said that all the laws and commandments are fulfilled in love. Not the love of the world, but His love. Then we become one. Now each one of us becomes one with God and so if we are to be one with God we must be one with each other. No disharmony amongst the Godhead and we certainly shall not bring it with us. If we don’t love as God has called us to love, if we don’t love a brother or sister, then we cannot be part of this unity with God. He will not allow those who will not love to bring that evil into His Godly unity. There will be no stone in that sandal.
“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.” Jesus laid down His life because of His own will. Jesus laid down His life in obedience to the Father. Jesus was led to the cross by the Spirit of God. In all things the will of God is singular. He is His own council. Jesus loved the Father and so was obedient to Him. Just as we love Jesus and are obedient to Him. Praise God for the great love He has for us and for delivering to us the inviolate invitation through Jesus. He is so good to us!
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 withLuke 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.
by Bob withJohn 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.
by Bob withWe 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
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.
by Bob with1 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 withJohn 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 with