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John 10:1-42; Luke 13:22-14:24<\/strong><\/span> John:<\/strong> I love Jesus\u2019 teachings today in John 10 verses 9 & 10 \u2013 \u201cYes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief\u2019s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0What a great analogy \u2013 Jesus is the gateway to salvation.\u00a0 Life in relationship with Jesus will be full of green pastures \u2013 this reminds me of <\/span>Psalm 23 verse 2<\/span>!\u00a0 \u00a0And then Jesus tells us that his purpose is to give us life in all its fullness.\u00a0 I think all too often we look for fullness of life in all the wrong places\u2026\u00a0 when all we have to do is walk through the gate.\u00a0 Have you walked through the gate?<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus calling himself the Good Shepherd is so very beautiful and fitting in verses 14 &15 \u2013 \u201cI am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0After we walk through the gate of faith to fullness of life with Jesus, he will be our Good Shepherd forever.\u00a0 He is a shepherd that knows us \u2013 and we know him.\u00a0 He will protect us with his rod and staff \u2013 again, a little <\/span>Psalm 23 verse 4<\/span>.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 And more than anything else, this Good Shepherd has laid down his life for us.\u00a0 \u00a0Do you consider Jesus to be your Good Shepherd?<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our John 10 readings today titled \u201cThe Good Shepherd<\/strong>\u201d is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n John chapter 10 verse 30 is a powerful teaching from Jesus! \u201cThe Father and I are one.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Many churches celebrate Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the Upper Room after Jesus\u2019 ascension into heaven.\u00a0 Thus, rounding out the Trinity. (Bible.org has a great overview of the Trinity <\/span>at this link<\/span>.)\u00a0 The Father.\u00a0 The Son.\u00a0 And the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Do you believe Jesus when he says, \u201c\u201dThe Father and I are one\u201d ?\u00a0 <\/span>Jesus smartly quotes from <\/span>Psalm 82 verse 6<\/span> in verses 34-36 today: \u201cJesus replied, \u201cIt is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, `I say, you are gods!\u2019\u00a0And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people, who received God\u2019s message, were called `gods,\u2019 why do you call it blasphemy when the Holy One who was sent into the world by the Father says, `I am the Son of God\u2019?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in John titled \u201cThe Sovereign Shepherd\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Luke:<\/strong> Bible.org\u2019s wonderful commentary on Luke chapter 13\u2019s readings today titled \u201cStriving to Enter the Narrow Door\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 teachings in Luke chapter 14 verses 12 through 14 are so powerful \u2013 \u201c\u201dWhen you put on a luncheon or a dinner,\u201d he said, \u201cdon\u2019t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How often do we do something for others \u2013 in hopes of getting something back in return?\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s simply praise?\u00a0 Or maybe it\u2019s indeed an invite to something else in the future?\u00a0 Kind of the whole idea of \u201cI\u2019ll scratch your back if you\u2019ll scratch mine.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus tells us there is another way \u2013 care for others that cannot repay you.\u00a0 Because God will repay you.\u00a0 And who would you rather receive repayment from for your good deeds \u2013 humans or God?\u00a0 Do you think that caring for the poor is giving to God?\u00a0 Will you give to God?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in John remind me Rebecca St. James\u2019 beautiful song \u201cYou are Loved:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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