Praise the Lord for this fabulous Friday. It is warm and brilliant. Alice is in Boston being busy being a young grandma. Jessica is coming home for the weekend. Her boyfriend Tom will be joining us for the weekend too. We are planning for a full and joyful weekend of fellowship and worship. It is a great honour to worship Jesus our King and our Lord.
The titles we give people are very important. They communicate power, authority, respect, integrity, honor, and trust. Titles are symbols of status and position. We give people titles like doctor, professor, Reverend, Honorable, Senator, Congressman, President, General, Admiral, Prince, King, Magistrate, and the list of titles could go on. You know, the interesting thing about titles is that their meaning and importance is negated if the behavior of the one bearing the title proves to be unbefitting the title. Titles only have power because people voluntarily agree to submit to the power and authority the title represents. If the trust of those who empower someone with the inherent authority of a particular title is broken, the title is absolutely meaningless. Sure, a person may still hold a title based on their vocation or position, but by their actions have proven themselves unworthy the distinction, privilege, and responsibility of the title. Respect and trust must be earned. Any good leader knows their authority is won on the basis of strong relationships and reliable decision making. Titles increase in power and authority when the one holding the title proves themselves trustworthy. Human leaders frequently fall from “grace.” Human leaders prove the titles they hold to be just that, a title describing what they do, not who they are. Today i would like to focus on Christ as the King. To be called a king means something. It means you are responsible to lead and govern a certain group of people and there are a whole series of expectations that come along with that position. But to be called The King means something altogether different. It means you are the King of Kings, the ruler. Jesus is the King of the whole universe and He deserves the title because His character proves Him worthy. He is a King unlike all other rulers and leaders. Christ our King will never fail us or back out on His promises to us. He is a person of flawless character, who speaks only the truth all the time, who is perfect in every way, deserving of our love and devotion because of His love for and devotion to us. Today we come to behold Christ, the King of glory. The book of Revelation, the final book of the Bible, is often misunderstood because people find it confusing and a little scary. It is a book containing the prophetic vision of John, the gospel writer and disciple of Jesus. The book is often referred to as the Revelation of John, but the book calls itself a revelation of Jesus Christ, both revealing further things about Christ and providing an expansion of Christ’s message to the believers living in the interim period between His first and second comings. John takes us into the throne room of heaven. In that place we are given some vivid images of Jesus. Jesus is described as: the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, ruler of the kings of the earth, Alpha and Omega, and the Almighty. Each tells us something important about Jesus, our King. In Revelation(1:4b-5c) we read about Jesus the Risen one , who has ascended to heaven, as Christ our King .The Bible, in 1 Timothy 6:15, says that Jesus is, “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords”(NIV). The Bible also says in Rev. 17:14, “They(the enemies of God) will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him we will be His called, chosen and faithful followers” (NIV). Failing to acknowledge Christ the King does nothing to change the reality. He is God’s appointed one and He desires to be King of our hearts and Lord of our lives. This is who Jesus is. As Christians, we must wrestle with what this means for our lives. What areas of our hearts are yet to be subject to His rule? What pockets of sin and darkness do we cling to, dividing our loyalties and preventing us from devoting ourselves wholly to Him? Christ is King over all, but have we made Him the King of our lives?Revelation (1:5d-6). Reveals the work of Christ our King. It is written, “To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5d-6, NRSV). Revelation 1:8 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (NRSV). What is God saying here? He is telling us that He is eternal God. If He is alpha (the first letter in the Greek alphabet) He is the one who was from the very beginning. God is and was and always will be. He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Nothing exists that God’s hand has not made. There is no king like our God. He is the Almighty. The Greek word here means, “ruler of the universe,” or “ruler of all.” No king can match the mighty power of our God; all others are subject to His reign and rule. He alone is Almighty God.Our God, the God of the whole universe, wants to reign in every human heart. God doesn’t want to burden you with a bunch of rules and regulations. He wants to make your heart alive in ways you could never otherwise know. No amount of wealth, pleasure, or success can compare to the fulfillment of God’s good plan in a person’s life. The reign of God begins in our lives the moment we acknowledge Him for who He is. The Bible says, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-10, NIV). Thelma and Victor Hayes struck it rich. In August of 2005, the Canadian couple won more than $7 million (Canadian) in the lottery. There are a few additional facts that make the story interesting. According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, Thelma and Victor are one of the oldest couples ever to win such a large jackpot. At the time they won, the Hayes’ had been married 63 years, and both of them were 89-years-old. During a televised interview, Thelma and Victor were asked the typical question, "What are you going to do with the money?" The couple responded that, at this stage in life, they were unlikely to become "giddy high spenders." In fact, they intended to remain in the retirement home where they lived. While her husband planned on buying a Lincoln Town Car, Thelma’s personal shopping list contained only one item. She told reporters, "I’m getting a new pair of nylons." Thelma’s response was widely reported as at least comical, if not foolish. How could someone win a fortune and change nothing but her nylons? Often we are just like Thelma. We have “struck it rich” in Jesus and yet we live like we have no idea He exists. We are content living lives that are less than we were created to live. We get comfortable in the chaos and mess that we find ourselves in and we choose to stay put rather than invite Jesus in to change things around for us. May the Lord stir our hearts to love Him with all our hearts and serve Him with recklessness and joyful abandonment.
In Christ,
Brown
"Most Gracious God, You showed Your love in sending Jesus Christ into the world that all might have life through Him. Pour out Your Spirit upon Your Church, that it may fulfill Your command to preach the gospel to every creature. Send laborers into Your harvest, fill them with the Holy Spirit and with faith, defend them in all dangers and temptations, and hasten the time when Your will shall be done, on earth as it is in heaven; through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. ."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w7t9DyGkqg
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 4-17-08
Praise the Lord for this glorious day. Paul whose life was dramatically transformed by the Lord Jesus was full of doxology. He begins his letter to the Ephesians, with unending praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 5, we are called to give thanks to the Lord in all situations. It’s easy to give thanks in all circumstances when circumstances are good. It’s easy to thank God when circumstances are good. But what about when circumstances are NOT good? The Thessalonians are struggling with this exact same issue. They love Jesus. They look forward to His return. They share their faith with others. But not everything is going well. Some of them are being persecuted. According to Acts 17, some were even arrested! And Paul wants them to know how to handle hard times. Beginning with verse 16, he mentions three ways we can live for Christ when life is difficult. Number one: God wants us to be joyful. The Greek word refers to a state of happiness that is not affected by outward circumstances. The same word is used by Paul in Philippines 4:4 when he says “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, and again I say Rejoice!” The joyful Christian says "Even though things don't always go the way I want them to go, I still rejoice in my relationship with the Lord Jesus.! I rejoice because even though I still have problems, Jesus has already taken care of my BIGGEST problem! But even in the middle of a rotten day, we can still say “Lord, if this is the worst thing that ever happens to me, I’m doing all right. I rejoice because I know my troubles aren’t going to last forever! I rejoice because all things work together for the good of those who love God! I rejoice because the trials and tribulations of this life are designed to make me more like Jesus!” New Testament scholar Leon Morris says that “The first Christians thought more of their Lord than of their difficulties. They thought more of their riches in Christ than of their poverty on the earth. And that’s what makes it possible to be joyful always.” The Lord wants us to be joyful. He wants us to be prayerful. Verse 17 says “Pray continually.” Praying continually doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything else. It means that prayer should be a common and constant practice WHEREVER you are! He wants us to be joyful. He wants us to be prayerful. He wants us to be thankful. Verse 18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” And you may not be able to say, "God, thank you that my child has become totally rebellious and is making our family life miserable." But you can say, "God, I give you thanks in this because you have the power to work miracles. You have the power to change my child's heart. I give you thanks because you are always a source of comfort to me during difficult times." Being thankful isn’t always easy...it takes effort, it requires discipline. But if you’ll do it, you’ll become stronger spiritually. Not only that, giving thanks with great joy is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. In Philippians chapter 1, Paul is sitting in prison. Writing to the Philippian Church. He could have said, “Get me out of here! I didn’t do anything wrong! I don’t deserve this!” But watch what he says starting with verse three: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, “even though I’m in jail, I still have a reason to rejoice!” I still have a reason to celebrate! God is doing great things in your lives, and someday, we will be together again in His presence!” Giving thanks with great joy is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. And then over in Habbakuk chapter 3, the prophet is learning how to put things in perspective in spite of his circumstances. In verse 17, he says “though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, vs. 18, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” In other words, “My happiness is not based on what happens around me. My happiness comes from being close to God!” I have faith that He will be my source of strength in times of sorrow! I have faith that even if things don’t work out the way I want, things are going to work out the way GOD wants!” Giving thanks with great joy is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.Some of you are going through a rough time. It may be a medical issue. Some days, you get by all right. Other days are so bad you can’t stand it. You wonder “How long is this going to go on? How long am I going to have to put up with this?” We all have moments when we get frustrated with our circumstances. I’m the same way. But I want to challenge you to thank God in spite of your circumstances. You can say "Thank You that I’m alive! Thank You that I have people in my life who love me! Thank You that I can still have a ministry on the earth even in my sickness! Thank you for all the things I DO have.” I have an email that was sent to me a while back. It says that "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who won’t make it through the week.If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.If you can attend a church service without fear of persecution, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.If you have money in the bank, money in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy."
Praise the Lord, who is sovereign. Praise Him for He is trustworthy. He is mighty and merciful. In Him we live, move and have our being.
Thanking Him,
Brown
Click here to view video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU
Praise the Lord, who is sovereign. Praise Him for He is trustworthy. He is mighty and merciful. In Him we live, move and have our being.
Thanking Him,
Brown
Click here to view video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 4-16-08
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this glorious day, a gift from the Lord. It is going to be one of the ten best days. May Jesus be praised all over the world. The Pope is visiting our Nation's Capital. Today is his 81st birthday. Sunita saw the Pope Mobile very close. It is a very glorious day in Washington today. President Bush and 9000 others are meeting the Pope for his birthday. May the Lord bless the Pope. May Jesus our Lord bless His church, worldwide. May the Holy Spirit move in the church universal bringing about a great revival and renewal. May the Lord set the captives free. May the poor hear the Good News. May the blind receive their sight. May the lame walk again. May the Redeemed of the Lord shout His praise. Praise the Lord for His Love that heals and restores.
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16, and then to research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not be completed until 25 years later. When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums; others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)! What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, “Well, there was this teacher….” Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher. The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that “I truly loved my students.” The teacher who had made such a difference in the lives of these inner city boys had made that difference because of her genuine love for them. She could not remember any profound lecture that she had given. She could not remember any great and outstanding curriculum of learning that she had developed or used. Love was the instrument that she used to change the lives of these young men just as love was the instrument which Jesus used to change the lives of the disciples and it is still love which is the primary tool in the hands of the Church to revolutionize the world for Jesus Christ. It was the love and uniqueness of Jesus' message that caused a certain Scribe to say to Jesus in Matthew 8:19, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (NKJV)It was the uniqueness of the Words of Jesus which caused Peter to say in John 6:68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (NKJV) In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NKJV) The early Church exemplified these words of Jesus. The early Church had love for one another.the key words in – Acts 2:42-47; breaking of bread, prayers, were together, had all things in common, they cared as anyone as they had need, gladness, simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor. There is one thread running through them all – love. The early Church had love for one another and offered something which was and is radically unique. Genuine love is an altogether rare commodity in this world but it should not be so in the Church of Jesus Christ. We, more than any others, ought to reflect the radical love of Jesus toward one another in ways that are obvious to others. The early Church was attractive because it had something sweet which was of rare commodity. That commodity – love – is still a rare commodity. Indeed, we are living in times much akin to the days of the early Church. As we look around our society is increasingly pluralistic. In fact, we see many of the same threads of thought in the New Age religion of our day that existed in the mystery cults of the Romans Empire. We too see a type of Emperor Worship as well, don’t we? In Rome the Emperor was worshiped as a god or more specifically a representative of the gods. Is this any different from the modern secular worldview which rejects the notion of the family and Church as the primary structures of society – instead replacing Church and family with secularism, evolution, science, and the State?I am reminded of the words of Romans 1:20-25 where the Apostle Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… Amen.” (NKJV) In the ancient world, God – according to His divine providence – broke into history at just the appointed moment. He broke in with a kind of love that the world had never seen and has yet to fully comprehend. While the world tells us that we are on our own; the Church showed the world around them that we are in this together. While the world tells us that there is no power greater than that of the State; the Church showed the world around them that God reigns supreme.While the world’s false religions failed to satisfy the hearts and minds of the great multitudes of people; the God of creation offered the presence of the Holy Spirit within the very hearts and men and women who would seek Him. What made the early Church so attractive? Why were they able, with God’s help, to turn the world upside down as it says in Acts 17:6? Because they were filled with the love of Christ! It is the love of Christ in us that is needed in people’s lives.
In Him,
Brown
Click here to view video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwTRxkvNjdg&feature=related
Praise the Lord for this glorious day, a gift from the Lord. It is going to be one of the ten best days. May Jesus be praised all over the world. The Pope is visiting our Nation's Capital. Today is his 81st birthday. Sunita saw the Pope Mobile very close. It is a very glorious day in Washington today. President Bush and 9000 others are meeting the Pope for his birthday. May the Lord bless the Pope. May Jesus our Lord bless His church, worldwide. May the Holy Spirit move in the church universal bringing about a great revival and renewal. May the Lord set the captives free. May the poor hear the Good News. May the blind receive their sight. May the lame walk again. May the Redeemed of the Lord shout His praise. Praise the Lord for His Love that heals and restores.
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16, and then to research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not be completed until 25 years later. When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums; others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)! What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, “Well, there was this teacher….” Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher. The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that “I truly loved my students.” The teacher who had made such a difference in the lives of these inner city boys had made that difference because of her genuine love for them. She could not remember any profound lecture that she had given. She could not remember any great and outstanding curriculum of learning that she had developed or used. Love was the instrument that she used to change the lives of these young men just as love was the instrument which Jesus used to change the lives of the disciples and it is still love which is the primary tool in the hands of the Church to revolutionize the world for Jesus Christ. It was the love and uniqueness of Jesus' message that caused a certain Scribe to say to Jesus in Matthew 8:19, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (NKJV)It was the uniqueness of the Words of Jesus which caused Peter to say in John 6:68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (NKJV) In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NKJV) The early Church exemplified these words of Jesus. The early Church had love for one another.the key words in – Acts 2:42-47; breaking of bread, prayers, were together, had all things in common, they cared as anyone as they had need, gladness, simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor. There is one thread running through them all – love. The early Church had love for one another and offered something which was and is radically unique. Genuine love is an altogether rare commodity in this world but it should not be so in the Church of Jesus Christ. We, more than any others, ought to reflect the radical love of Jesus toward one another in ways that are obvious to others. The early Church was attractive because it had something sweet which was of rare commodity. That commodity – love – is still a rare commodity. Indeed, we are living in times much akin to the days of the early Church. As we look around our society is increasingly pluralistic. In fact, we see many of the same threads of thought in the New Age religion of our day that existed in the mystery cults of the Romans Empire. We too see a type of Emperor Worship as well, don’t we? In Rome the Emperor was worshiped as a god or more specifically a representative of the gods. Is this any different from the modern secular worldview which rejects the notion of the family and Church as the primary structures of society – instead replacing Church and family with secularism, evolution, science, and the State?I am reminded of the words of Romans 1:20-25 where the Apostle Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… Amen.” (NKJV) In the ancient world, God – according to His divine providence – broke into history at just the appointed moment. He broke in with a kind of love that the world had never seen and has yet to fully comprehend. While the world tells us that we are on our own; the Church showed the world around them that we are in this together. While the world tells us that there is no power greater than that of the State; the Church showed the world around them that God reigns supreme.While the world’s false religions failed to satisfy the hearts and minds of the great multitudes of people; the God of creation offered the presence of the Holy Spirit within the very hearts and men and women who would seek Him. What made the early Church so attractive? Why were they able, with God’s help, to turn the world upside down as it says in Acts 17:6? Because they were filled with the love of Christ! It is the love of Christ in us that is needed in people’s lives.
In Him,
Brown
Click here to view video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwTRxkvNjdg&feature=related
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 4-15-08
Good Morning,
It is one of the ten best days today. It is bright and beautiful, the tulips and daffodils are blooming profusely. Jesus is Lord, praise His name. I love the verse from Psalm 100:3, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Phillip Keller drew from his many years as a shepherd to write, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, a book many Christians find beneficial. In one place he describes “cast” sheep: “This is an old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself…. Even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become ‘cast’ and be a casualty…. A ‘cast’ sheep is a very pathetic site. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration. If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful sheep man to count his flock every day…. If one or two are missing, often his first thought is, ‘One of my sheep is cast somewhere. I must go in search and set it on its feet’” (54, 61). Keller reminds us that though the image of God’s people as sheep is common in the Bible, it is not completely complementary. From all accounts, sheep are helpless animals of limited intelligence. They are timid and can be startled by the slightest sound; but at other times they are so stubborn that nothing moves them. John MacArthur observes that “sheep are the most helpless, defenseless, straying, and dirty of animals. They require constant oversight, leading, rescue, and cleaning or they will die. Being a shepherd was good training for leading people.” These characteristics led Dr. Bob Smith, professor of philosophy at Bethel College, to say that the existence of sheep alone disproves evolution – they could not survive any battle for the fittest. (Quoted in Hughes, John, in loc.). In spite of the negative connotations, however, God identifies us “sheep” and Himself the “Shepherd.” When preaching on this passage, John MacArthur began his sermon by identifying 71 different Biblical names and titles for Jesus (everything from “Amen” to “Word of Life”). Then he said, “perhaps His most endearing and intimate title is ‘Shepherd’” (Commentary on John, in loc.). Calling us “sheep” might not feel like a great complement; but being the “Good Shepherd” greatly exalts God’s care and compassion. The Good Shepherd leads us to the green pastures and cool waters of Heaven. An Aesop’s Fable tells of a wolf who disguised himself in the clothing of a shepherd so he could get near the sheep. He was thrilled that they did not run away when he came near in disguise. In fact, he was so excited that he called for the sheep to come to him. But when he opened his mouth, his howling brought the shepherd running, who killed the wolf. The voice revealed him. Jesus OUR LORD, reminds us of several ways He cares for us. First, He calls you by name. Even though a shepherd kept his sheep in a community pen with other sheep, he would stand outside and call his own by name and they would come to him. Jesus knows your name. If you are a Christian it is because He called you personally. Tommy Walker wrote a beautiful song about this: “I have a Maker, He formed my heart. Before even time began, my life was in His hand. He knows my name; He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and He hears me when I call.” Second, He speaks a good word. You know how important it is that you get good advice, wise counsel, hope for your fearful heart, and strength for your timid soul, a salve for your guilty conscience. The Good Shepherd has left you with a perfect word – you lack nothing to equip you for every good work. He admits you to Heaven. He is the gate, the one means of entry to eternal joy. We have no key to let ourselves in, no money to bribe the gatekeeper, no right to demand entrance. Yet Jesus opens the way to the Father and invites all who are weary and heavy laden to come and find rest for your souls. He searches out the lost. Every shepherd knows that sheep wander away and need help. Jesus does not leave His own to flail without help and provision. He seeks and find and restores our souls. There are probably some here today who have wondered and are wondering if God knows, if God cares, if God seeks you. He is here today – He is calling you back to Himself; He searches and finds the lost and restores your soul. He knows us. Everyone of us has secrets, areas of our heart and life where would know we would lose friends if people knew what we are really like. Jesus knows. He knew before He created you, and He knows every struggle, every fear, every failure. He knows and He loves. Of course the critical work that unites all of the ministry of the Good Shepherd is that He lays down His life for the sheep. He was not caught in a conflation of circumstances resulting in murder before His time. His life was not taken away; He chose the time and place and manner – He laid it down of His own will to save the sheep. There is a delightful scene in Prince Caspian, the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. The children are trying to find their way to Caspian’s camp, and they come to the edge of a deep gorge. The way ahead isn’t clear, but then Lucy cries out, “Look! Look! Look!” “Where? What?” everyone asks. “The Lion” Lucy says. “Aslan himself. Didn’t you see?” But no one else can see Aslan, and the majority vote to go the other way. Eventually they run into enemy troops and must retrace their steps back the way they came. That night, once again, Aslan appears to Lucy, and once again she has to try to persuade the others to follow her as she follows him. “Will the others see you too?” she asks him. “Certainly not at first,” he replies. “Later on, it depends.” Lucy then realizes that she has to go with him “whether anyone else does or not.”Whether anyone else does or not. Christ causes division (verses 19-21). You must decide if you will follow Him whether anyone else does or not. Why should you follow a man that some claim is insane, or has a demon? Because He is the good shepherd, and you will not want. He gives life, and that abundantly, and all His own hear Him calling and follow. Will you?
In Christ,
Brown
It is one of the ten best days today. It is bright and beautiful, the tulips and daffodils are blooming profusely. Jesus is Lord, praise His name. I love the verse from Psalm 100:3, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Phillip Keller drew from his many years as a shepherd to write, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, a book many Christians find beneficial. In one place he describes “cast” sheep: “This is an old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself…. Even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become ‘cast’ and be a casualty…. A ‘cast’ sheep is a very pathetic site. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration. If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful sheep man to count his flock every day…. If one or two are missing, often his first thought is, ‘One of my sheep is cast somewhere. I must go in search and set it on its feet’” (54, 61). Keller reminds us that though the image of God’s people as sheep is common in the Bible, it is not completely complementary. From all accounts, sheep are helpless animals of limited intelligence. They are timid and can be startled by the slightest sound; but at other times they are so stubborn that nothing moves them. John MacArthur observes that “sheep are the most helpless, defenseless, straying, and dirty of animals. They require constant oversight, leading, rescue, and cleaning or they will die. Being a shepherd was good training for leading people.” These characteristics led Dr. Bob Smith, professor of philosophy at Bethel College, to say that the existence of sheep alone disproves evolution – they could not survive any battle for the fittest. (Quoted in Hughes, John, in loc.). In spite of the negative connotations, however, God identifies us “sheep” and Himself the “Shepherd.” When preaching on this passage, John MacArthur began his sermon by identifying 71 different Biblical names and titles for Jesus (everything from “Amen” to “Word of Life”). Then he said, “perhaps His most endearing and intimate title is ‘Shepherd’” (Commentary on John, in loc.). Calling us “sheep” might not feel like a great complement; but being the “Good Shepherd” greatly exalts God’s care and compassion. The Good Shepherd leads us to the green pastures and cool waters of Heaven. An Aesop’s Fable tells of a wolf who disguised himself in the clothing of a shepherd so he could get near the sheep. He was thrilled that they did not run away when he came near in disguise. In fact, he was so excited that he called for the sheep to come to him. But when he opened his mouth, his howling brought the shepherd running, who killed the wolf. The voice revealed him. Jesus OUR LORD, reminds us of several ways He cares for us. First, He calls you by name. Even though a shepherd kept his sheep in a community pen with other sheep, he would stand outside and call his own by name and they would come to him. Jesus knows your name. If you are a Christian it is because He called you personally. Tommy Walker wrote a beautiful song about this: “I have a Maker, He formed my heart. Before even time began, my life was in His hand. He knows my name; He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and He hears me when I call.” Second, He speaks a good word. You know how important it is that you get good advice, wise counsel, hope for your fearful heart, and strength for your timid soul, a salve for your guilty conscience. The Good Shepherd has left you with a perfect word – you lack nothing to equip you for every good work. He admits you to Heaven. He is the gate, the one means of entry to eternal joy. We have no key to let ourselves in, no money to bribe the gatekeeper, no right to demand entrance. Yet Jesus opens the way to the Father and invites all who are weary and heavy laden to come and find rest for your souls. He searches out the lost. Every shepherd knows that sheep wander away and need help. Jesus does not leave His own to flail without help and provision. He seeks and find and restores our souls. There are probably some here today who have wondered and are wondering if God knows, if God cares, if God seeks you. He is here today – He is calling you back to Himself; He searches and finds the lost and restores your soul. He knows us. Everyone of us has secrets, areas of our heart and life where would know we would lose friends if people knew what we are really like. Jesus knows. He knew before He created you, and He knows every struggle, every fear, every failure. He knows and He loves. Of course the critical work that unites all of the ministry of the Good Shepherd is that He lays down His life for the sheep. He was not caught in a conflation of circumstances resulting in murder before His time. His life was not taken away; He chose the time and place and manner – He laid it down of His own will to save the sheep. There is a delightful scene in Prince Caspian, the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. The children are trying to find their way to Caspian’s camp, and they come to the edge of a deep gorge. The way ahead isn’t clear, but then Lucy cries out, “Look! Look! Look!” “Where? What?” everyone asks. “The Lion” Lucy says. “Aslan himself. Didn’t you see?” But no one else can see Aslan, and the majority vote to go the other way. Eventually they run into enemy troops and must retrace their steps back the way they came. That night, once again, Aslan appears to Lucy, and once again she has to try to persuade the others to follow her as she follows him. “Will the others see you too?” she asks him. “Certainly not at first,” he replies. “Later on, it depends.” Lucy then realizes that she has to go with him “whether anyone else does or not.”Whether anyone else does or not. Christ causes division (verses 19-21). You must decide if you will follow Him whether anyone else does or not. Why should you follow a man that some claim is insane, or has a demon? Because He is the good shepherd, and you will not want. He gives life, and that abundantly, and all His own hear Him calling and follow. Will you?
In Christ,
Brown
Monday, April 14, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 4-14-08
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this glorious day. It is bright and bountiful. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful fabulous weekend. The Five 4 Five concert was awesome. Thank you for praying for us. The bands were loud but the message about Jesus was clear. Hundreds of young people came and we were all blessed. Praise the Lord for all the youth leaders, youth pastors, parents and grandparents who brought the young people. The Lord anointed the concert, the music and the message. It was wonderful to see the move of the Lord in the lives of young people. The youth rocked the city and the church! I saw even the grandmas dancing with jubilant feet. It takes a lot to organize these events. Praise the Lord for all those who participated and supported.
The readings for yesterday focused on Jesus as our Shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the winsome Shepherd. I'm reminded of what Jesus said about His love for lost sheep. Jesus said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’” (Luke 15:4-6). What this Scripture tells us is that you don’t have to be a perfect sheep for God to love you. You can be lost and He still loves you and longs for you. You can be a wandering sheep and He still wants you back in the fold. The Shepherd does not reject the wandering sheep, or hope he gets what he deserves, the Shepherd seeks to save and bring back the lost sheep. He is not angry or scolding toward the sheep; He only rejoices when He is able to bring it back home. Jesus said at the end of the parable, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7). Even though we as sinners have brought Him trouble, and He has had to go and seek us, He is full of joy when He can bring us home. What a great, good and loving Shepherd we have. Sheep are not particularly bright animals. It is not that they occasionally wander off, it is their pattern. It is predictable and expected. They are easily distracted and easily led astray. A story ran in the Washington Post in 2005 telling about shepherds in Gevas, Turkey who watched in shock as hundreds of their sheep followed each other over a cliff. First one sheep wandered away and fell over, and eventually the entire flock followed it. In the end, more than 400 sheep died in the plunge. There were 1,100 others that followed, but they survived because their fall was broken by the first ones that went over. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah recognized that the human condition was much like these sheep, for he wrote: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). We have followed the crowd instead of the Shepherd and the result is destruction. But there are some good things about sheep also. They can learn to follow the true Shepherd. They learn to recognize His voice. Jesus said “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). And when they get to know His voice, they follow Him and will not follow a stranger. It is the loving attention and care of the Shepherd that develops trust and draws them to Him.
The second point I want us to consider is: The nature of the enemies of the sheep. The enemies of the sheep are dangerous and devious. There are thieves who try to get into the sheepfold surreptitiously. They climb over the protective hedge or fence. The sheep do not belong to them, but they want them. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). There are thieves, but there are also predators. Wolves and other predators are always looking for a straying, wayward sheep who is beyond the protection of the shepherd. Everywhere the sheep went there were always predators lurking in the shadows, and watching from a short distance, awaiting their opportunity. They want to devour the sheep. Jesus equated this with those who try to lead people astray and destroy them. Jesus said: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The problem with prophets is that they appear to be prophets. They take on the role of a spiritual leader. They look like the real thing. They are believable. What is interesting about this image of Jesus is that the wolves are still ferocious predators, but they are disguised as one of the sheep. And the disguise is not some cheesy sheep coat with a wolf’s snout sticking out. They really look like sheep. That is the point. In fact, it is impossible to tell them from real sheep. This is what gives them the ability to mix in among the sheep without being recognized. No one would be able to tell until it was too late. The false prophets do not talk like wolves, they say things that sound very spiritual and religious. In fact, their beliefs, words and actions often seem to outdo even the most committed. But in the end, they devour the sheep. Finally, let’s look at: The nature of the Shepherd. I am impressed by the love of the Shepherd for His sheep in this parable. He calls them each by name. He knows each one intimately and cares for them. He goes and searches for the wandering ones. Even those we think of as hopeless sinners are still sheep, even though they may have strayed and become lost. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost are still sheep by nature — God’s creation — and the good Shepherd is still seeking them. It must have concerned those who thought of themselves as righteous and having exclusive rights to the Shepherd, when Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). In the Gospel of Matthew we read: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36). The Shepherd has compassion. He does not drive the sheep, He leads them. He looks after their wounds. He brings them to places of renewal where they can be refreshed. He provides pasture and water for them. Jesus says that He is not only the Shepherd, He is the gate for the sheep. At first this sounds like a confusing double metaphor, until you understand that in biblical times the shepherd would take the sheep to a cave, or lead them into a sheepfold that was created by thick briars on all sides. Both the cave and the briars had an opening where the sheep could go in and out. The only problem was that predators could go in as well. So the shepherd would lay down in the opening at night and literally become the gate. Nothing could go in or out without going through him. It could be a dangerous position to be in. He would literally lay down his life for the sheep, and many shepherds lost their lives in this way from an attack of predators. The whole life of the shepherd is lived to do good to the sheep. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Jesus, the good Shepherd, has come to give us life. Life. It is unfortunate that we have reduced the Christian life to a moral code. There is a moral code, but it is so much more than that. I t misses the point when we present the Christian life as a set of rules, or a body of doctrine. It is tragic when we reduce the Christian life to some kind of formula: Believe these things and say these things in this order, and you will be saved and won’t have to worry about going to hell. It totally misses the point that the Christian life is a relationship. It means loving our Shepherd. Following Him. Listening to His voice. Staying near Him. Trusting Him. Jesus never gave an altar call, or asked for a show of hands of those who believed in him. That would have been too easy. What He did say was, “Follow me.” Those are some of the most simple and most difficult words ever spoken in the history of the world. It is one thing to confess your sins and ask Christ to come into your life (and that is a very good and necessary thing), but it is quite another thing to actually follow Jesus day by day, hour by hour. Becoming a Christian is not just a crisis event, it is an ongoing relationship with God that results in a new way of living. But for some reason this is hard for us to get through our skulls. Donald Miller, in his excellent book, Searching for God Knows What, tells about going to a Bible college where he taught one of the classes. Speaking to this group of Bible students, he told them he was going to present the plan of Salvation, but he was going to leave out one key element, and they were to listen carefully so that at the end they could tell him what it was. He began by saying that mankind is sinful and separated from God, and he pointed out many of the sins of the culture — euthanasia, abortion, homosexuality, drug use, etc. He talked about the need to repent and backed it up with several Scriptures. He used a real life example of a bridge being out, and how a man shot flares just over the top of cars to get them to stop and not drive over the bridge to their death. He again quoted Scripture that talked about the wages of sin being death, and how we were to avoid spiritual death at any cost. He talked about the beauty of morality, and told the story of a man who avoided being unfaithful to his wife when faced with the opportunity, and how his marriage blossomed after that and became better than ever. He talked about heaven and how wonderful it would be — streets of gold and gates of pearl with a beautiful river running through it. He said all this could be theirs if they only believed, repented and honored God. Not only would heaven be theirs, but real meaning and fulfillment would be realized in their lives right here and now. He then asked the students what was left out of the story. There was absolute silence in the room. Now these were students who had grown up in evangelical churches. They attended a Bible college where they had studied theology. They had read the Bible and taken classes in both Old and New Testament. And only weeks before had taken an evangelism class and knocked on hundreds of doors in an attempt to lead people to Christ. Miller said that the students sat there for several uncomfortable minutes. Finally he wrote, “None of the forty-five students in the class realized I had presented a gospel without once mentioning the name of Jesus.” If there is anything the story of the Shepherd and the sheep tells us, it is that the Christian life is not about going through a few steps so we can avoid hell and get to heaven; it is about a relationship that takes place between the Shepherd and His sheep. It is not about getting into the fold, for that is never mentioned, it is about following the Shepherd. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3).
In Jesus our Shepherd,
Brown
The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves at home here on earth. ... Malcolm Muggeridge
Praise the Lord for this glorious day. It is bright and bountiful. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful fabulous weekend. The Five 4 Five concert was awesome. Thank you for praying for us. The bands were loud but the message about Jesus was clear. Hundreds of young people came and we were all blessed. Praise the Lord for all the youth leaders, youth pastors, parents and grandparents who brought the young people. The Lord anointed the concert, the music and the message. It was wonderful to see the move of the Lord in the lives of young people. The youth rocked the city and the church! I saw even the grandmas dancing with jubilant feet. It takes a lot to organize these events. Praise the Lord for all those who participated and supported.
The readings for yesterday focused on Jesus as our Shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the winsome Shepherd. I'm reminded of what Jesus said about His love for lost sheep. Jesus said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’” (Luke 15:4-6). What this Scripture tells us is that you don’t have to be a perfect sheep for God to love you. You can be lost and He still loves you and longs for you. You can be a wandering sheep and He still wants you back in the fold. The Shepherd does not reject the wandering sheep, or hope he gets what he deserves, the Shepherd seeks to save and bring back the lost sheep. He is not angry or scolding toward the sheep; He only rejoices when He is able to bring it back home. Jesus said at the end of the parable, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7). Even though we as sinners have brought Him trouble, and He has had to go and seek us, He is full of joy when He can bring us home. What a great, good and loving Shepherd we have. Sheep are not particularly bright animals. It is not that they occasionally wander off, it is their pattern. It is predictable and expected. They are easily distracted and easily led astray. A story ran in the Washington Post in 2005 telling about shepherds in Gevas, Turkey who watched in shock as hundreds of their sheep followed each other over a cliff. First one sheep wandered away and fell over, and eventually the entire flock followed it. In the end, more than 400 sheep died in the plunge. There were 1,100 others that followed, but they survived because their fall was broken by the first ones that went over. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah recognized that the human condition was much like these sheep, for he wrote: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). We have followed the crowd instead of the Shepherd and the result is destruction. But there are some good things about sheep also. They can learn to follow the true Shepherd. They learn to recognize His voice. Jesus said “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). And when they get to know His voice, they follow Him and will not follow a stranger. It is the loving attention and care of the Shepherd that develops trust and draws them to Him.
The second point I want us to consider is: The nature of the enemies of the sheep. The enemies of the sheep are dangerous and devious. There are thieves who try to get into the sheepfold surreptitiously. They climb over the protective hedge or fence. The sheep do not belong to them, but they want them. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). There are thieves, but there are also predators. Wolves and other predators are always looking for a straying, wayward sheep who is beyond the protection of the shepherd. Everywhere the sheep went there were always predators lurking in the shadows, and watching from a short distance, awaiting their opportunity. They want to devour the sheep. Jesus equated this with those who try to lead people astray and destroy them. Jesus said: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The problem with prophets is that they appear to be prophets. They take on the role of a spiritual leader. They look like the real thing. They are believable. What is interesting about this image of Jesus is that the wolves are still ferocious predators, but they are disguised as one of the sheep. And the disguise is not some cheesy sheep coat with a wolf’s snout sticking out. They really look like sheep. That is the point. In fact, it is impossible to tell them from real sheep. This is what gives them the ability to mix in among the sheep without being recognized. No one would be able to tell until it was too late. The false prophets do not talk like wolves, they say things that sound very spiritual and religious. In fact, their beliefs, words and actions often seem to outdo even the most committed. But in the end, they devour the sheep. Finally, let’s look at: The nature of the Shepherd. I am impressed by the love of the Shepherd for His sheep in this parable. He calls them each by name. He knows each one intimately and cares for them. He goes and searches for the wandering ones. Even those we think of as hopeless sinners are still sheep, even though they may have strayed and become lost. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost are still sheep by nature — God’s creation — and the good Shepherd is still seeking them. It must have concerned those who thought of themselves as righteous and having exclusive rights to the Shepherd, when Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). In the Gospel of Matthew we read: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36). The Shepherd has compassion. He does not drive the sheep, He leads them. He looks after their wounds. He brings them to places of renewal where they can be refreshed. He provides pasture and water for them. Jesus says that He is not only the Shepherd, He is the gate for the sheep. At first this sounds like a confusing double metaphor, until you understand that in biblical times the shepherd would take the sheep to a cave, or lead them into a sheepfold that was created by thick briars on all sides. Both the cave and the briars had an opening where the sheep could go in and out. The only problem was that predators could go in as well. So the shepherd would lay down in the opening at night and literally become the gate. Nothing could go in or out without going through him. It could be a dangerous position to be in. He would literally lay down his life for the sheep, and many shepherds lost their lives in this way from an attack of predators. The whole life of the shepherd is lived to do good to the sheep. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Jesus, the good Shepherd, has come to give us life. Life. It is unfortunate that we have reduced the Christian life to a moral code. There is a moral code, but it is so much more than that. I t misses the point when we present the Christian life as a set of rules, or a body of doctrine. It is tragic when we reduce the Christian life to some kind of formula: Believe these things and say these things in this order, and you will be saved and won’t have to worry about going to hell. It totally misses the point that the Christian life is a relationship. It means loving our Shepherd. Following Him. Listening to His voice. Staying near Him. Trusting Him. Jesus never gave an altar call, or asked for a show of hands of those who believed in him. That would have been too easy. What He did say was, “Follow me.” Those are some of the most simple and most difficult words ever spoken in the history of the world. It is one thing to confess your sins and ask Christ to come into your life (and that is a very good and necessary thing), but it is quite another thing to actually follow Jesus day by day, hour by hour. Becoming a Christian is not just a crisis event, it is an ongoing relationship with God that results in a new way of living. But for some reason this is hard for us to get through our skulls. Donald Miller, in his excellent book, Searching for God Knows What, tells about going to a Bible college where he taught one of the classes. Speaking to this group of Bible students, he told them he was going to present the plan of Salvation, but he was going to leave out one key element, and they were to listen carefully so that at the end they could tell him what it was. He began by saying that mankind is sinful and separated from God, and he pointed out many of the sins of the culture — euthanasia, abortion, homosexuality, drug use, etc. He talked about the need to repent and backed it up with several Scriptures. He used a real life example of a bridge being out, and how a man shot flares just over the top of cars to get them to stop and not drive over the bridge to their death. He again quoted Scripture that talked about the wages of sin being death, and how we were to avoid spiritual death at any cost. He talked about the beauty of morality, and told the story of a man who avoided being unfaithful to his wife when faced with the opportunity, and how his marriage blossomed after that and became better than ever. He talked about heaven and how wonderful it would be — streets of gold and gates of pearl with a beautiful river running through it. He said all this could be theirs if they only believed, repented and honored God. Not only would heaven be theirs, but real meaning and fulfillment would be realized in their lives right here and now. He then asked the students what was left out of the story. There was absolute silence in the room. Now these were students who had grown up in evangelical churches. They attended a Bible college where they had studied theology. They had read the Bible and taken classes in both Old and New Testament. And only weeks before had taken an evangelism class and knocked on hundreds of doors in an attempt to lead people to Christ. Miller said that the students sat there for several uncomfortable minutes. Finally he wrote, “None of the forty-five students in the class realized I had presented a gospel without once mentioning the name of Jesus.” If there is anything the story of the Shepherd and the sheep tells us, it is that the Christian life is not about going through a few steps so we can avoid hell and get to heaven; it is about a relationship that takes place between the Shepherd and His sheep. It is not about getting into the fold, for that is never mentioned, it is about following the Shepherd. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3).
In Jesus our Shepherd,
Brown
The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves at home here on earth. ... Malcolm Muggeridge
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