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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
When Jesus spoke about the sheep and shepherd and the stranger approaching the fold in John Chapter 10, there were some people who did not understand a word Jesus was saying.
That was a serious situation to be in, and is a serious situation to be in, but that can be God’s way of revealing to you that people are blind and lost and in need of His mercy and rescuing love and His forgiveness and pardon and peace.
In verse 7, Jesus explains and elaborates. I am the door. Jesus turns the parable into a personal portrait. There have been many false Messiahs and they have only been thieves and robbers.
Verse 9. I am the door. The sheep will come in through me. Jesus Christ is the door to salvation, and salvation means being saved and saved means – rescued – salvaged and safe and secure.
And it is not just a coming in, but also a going out. We come together to feed upon Christ and His word and then we go out and share Christ with a needy world that does not know how needy it really is. And we shine for Jesus Christ, and even when we are shining and sharing and giving, we are being fed, and only disciples of Jesus can really understand that.
Haven’t you discovered this? It can be as you pour yourself out, and give yourself away in the name of Jesus, that he ministers to you and strengthens you and feeds you.
What makes us strong is coming in and receiving, and going out and sharing and giving. It is Jesus Christ who leads you out there, even where it is dangerous.
Keep close to Him. Keep up with Him. Do not rush ahead nor fall behind, and you will be absolutely safe.
Verse 10. I want you to live. I want you to have real life, out there in the world, with Jesus. That is where the real life is, in here in fellowship with Jesus, and out there with Jesus, in the world.
Jesus is the only person who offers us such promises.
In verse 10, there are the words of Jesus which I have used when speaking to people about drugs and drink. The thief comes to steal kill and destroy. If someone comes along to steal, or to kill that which has been good, or to destroy something wholesome, that person or thing is a thief and a robber.
Today there are situations and lives being ruined, and it is sometimes called the age we are living in. No, no, - that is a thief and a robber.
And, Jesus Christ comes offering life in its fullest and the best, overflowing with righteousness and love and joy and peace.
How far must the shepherd go? To the ultimate limit! He is to be prepared to die while looking after the sheep.
Shepherds are in danger of losing their lives when they are doing their work properly, and this is happening in various countries around the world.
David served his apprenticeship fighting off bears and lions. Is that one reason why he did so well when faced with a human enemy like Goliath?
You will go to any lengths if the sheep are yours, but if you are only hired, and if you are only in it for the glory, position, prestige, wages, reputation, you will only go so far, and you will be off when the going gets hard, and when the wolves and lions and bears and thieves and robbers appear.
The Pharisees were like that. They were afraid of what the people would say.
Jesus was never afraid of what people would say. He only wanted to please the Father, and it cost Him His life, and He says, “Follow Me”.
Jesus leads and we must follow. Jesus offers forgiveness and healing and peace, and we must be open to receive these riches. Jesus lays the table and we must eat and drink. Jesus provides the refreshing reviving renewing pool and we must drink.
Sheep are utterly helpless. They cannot defend themselves and they are prone to danger. Sheep wander – we all like sheep have gone astray. That is why all sheep need a shepherd.
Sheep give us one of the clearest evidences against evolution! How would they have ever survived without a shepherd!
We have a shepherd who speaks to us. We have a shepherd who knows our real and deepest needs. Think of the woman at the well – the man born blind – the water into wine – and that profound conversation with dear Nicodemus.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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