It's interesting to me that John 10:10 has been a verse that has frequented me in the last week or so...
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
But what has really piqued my interest is what you will find if you keep on reading...
John 10:10-15
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
We read that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. And that can look like anything! You may not know it right away but the thief can be found out if you persevere and keep looking for the truth.
In today's world it is so easy to get caught up in the moment and to want to believe in what we think or feel is right. But again I tell you, test it with scripture!
If what is being said isn't backed up by the word of God you need to be warned that the thief is near! People have done things that they didn't intend on doing. Just look at when Peter denied Christ three times as an example!
You can't necessarily blame the people but you must know that a "person" or "persons" aren't the one's we need to be placing our faith in in the first place, rather, we need to be placing our faith in the good shepherd, Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow I would like to talk about ways we can be on the guard against things like this.
John 10:10...what is the deal with that - its EVERYWHERE lately!!!
ReplyDeleteIts funny - I read my Life Application summary & it really applies to this - it said that a Hired Hand does the job for the pay - not for the love - where as the Shephard does the job for the love.... aahh - that Jesus loves us that much to die for us!!!
Joe... this is so true... the fact that the enemy comes to do us harm in so many ways is born out in this scripture. And how many "hired hands" have turned tail and ran? And not just pastors, but teachers and leaders as well. The only way to remain firm when the enemy strikes is to plant your faith in Jesus Christ...
ReplyDeleteI see it like this... the hired hand... he mends the fences... he feeds the sheep... he is there for the birthing process... and he is there for the death that occurs... but he doesn't build relationships while building the fences... he doesn't supply the food that he feeds... he doesn't rejoice in the birth, and he doesn't mourn the death... that is the rightful place of the shepherd...
Cool post my friend... very thought provoking....