John 10: 8-11 8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. The Lesson: -The [DEVIL] comes to Kill, Steal, and Destroy. -The [LORD] comes to Give Life. What the [Devil] takes away the [Lord] gives back. This is something I found when I was researching the verses above: We have 3 real enemies - these 3 are the thief. The thief has only come to steal, kill and destroy. Whenever you see loss, death, and destruction you know that the enemy is at work. And while there are many things you can do, and while you can certainly build a house of brick, and live a healthy lifestyle - no matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves. We cannot save ourselves, but Jesus can, Jesus does. We cannot overcome sin, death and the devil by ourselves, but Jesus has. Jesus has overcome by the cross, and the empty tomb, and resurrection from the dead. Jesus has not only overcome, but Jesus has conquered. Jesus saves. Jesus can save us from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and Jesus can even save us from ourselves. Jesus came that he might give us life, not just ordinary life, but abundant life, everlasting life in the new heaven and the new earth where there is no more sin, or sickness, or suffering, or sorrow. And while many people know about the 3 little pigs, the only thing that really matters, the only thing we really need to know, is to know about our Savior, to know about Jesus. People have taught us about Jesus, because Jesus is our Savior and we need a savior from the world, the flesh, and the devil who are all seeking to steal, kill and destroy. So the Spirit works through the word to create faith in our hearts. Faith which teaches us to know our Saviors voice. Faith which leads us to follow him, faith which hope in the abundant and everlasting life which we are promised in his name. So Jesus has called us to life.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 20:01:05 +0000