Understanding The Care Of God (1)
Monday June 27, 2016
On a regular basis, when you climb into bed at night, do you sleep soundly or do you count sheep? Do you feel at peace, or do you worry about the problems each day brings? Jesus often told earthly stories to help us understand spiritual principles. One day Jesus spoke about a secure sheep pen where sheep were held together for a period of time. This sheep pen provided shelter against bad weather, thieves, and wild animals.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:1-5 NIV)
The sheep pen that Jesus refers to appears to be the world where we live. Jesus, who is both the gate and the gatekeeper, has control of who may legitimately be cared for in the sheep pen. Who are those sheep who are living under God’s care and protection? They can be us. God has provided the way for us to enter into the sheep pen by the death and resurrection of His beloved son Jesus. Our part is to trust in the finished work of the Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. If we stay outside on our own, then we are vulnerable to enemies. Predators may be lurking to harm us. Sheep stealers may try to steal, kill and destroy us. However, when we enter the sheep pen Jesus stands guard at the gate for us and we can rest in peace.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV)
Enemies surround us. The evil one wants to devour us. But if we follow the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, we will be safe today and every day.
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