Daily Bread - NOV/17/07

John 10:28-29 - And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck out of My Father's hand.

Every person that comes to Jesus was brought to Him as a gift from the Father (John 6:37; 17:9,11). We know that Father's arms are stretched out to the whole world, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Titus 2:11; John 12:32; Romans 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9). Those that come to Jesus will not be rejected and those who put their trust in Him will always be protected. Jesus is the perfect shepherd. He will not loose any of his sheep. He will fight for and defend His sheep against the lion and the bear. The wolves may attack but the good shepherd will not allow his sheep to be destroyed (John 10:11-14; 17:11-15).

God will never reject us but we can reject Him (1 John 2:19; Hebrews 6:4-6; John 12:42-43; 1 Corinthians 10:6-12). If we refuse to follow Him then He cannot lead us. We must be willing to continue to follow Him and not listen to the voice of another (John 10:5; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25). The Lord does not tire from searching us out and delivering us from all of the adverse circumstances that we allow ourselves to get into. He loved us before we loved Him and He goes on loving us even when we are disobedient. As long as a person is in this life they will find that if they ever, even for a moment, turn away from the Lord Jesus they will always find Him standing there with His outstretched arms of love pursuing them. All we have to do is cry out "help" and He instantly responds. Men may lie in wait to deceive but the Good Shepherd fights them off. Yet we must remember that we have a choice. If we choose to turn away form the Good Shepherd and refuse His words then we will be carried away of our own choosing to a place of deception (1 Timothy 4:1; Acts 20:29;2 Timothy 3:13; 2:17). So long as we are content to dwell with the Good Shepherd He will never reject us and will perfect everything that concerns us. He will never tire or weary, He will never slumber or sleep for the whole of His life and passion are His love for the sheep. It does not matter your weakness nor your frailty so long as you will hear the voice of your shepherd calling and come and set at His feet. As long as you are willing to follow He will continue to lead and for eternity you will find yourself blessed and abundantly supplied by your Shepherd Jesus the Messiah and His Father who is also our Father (1 John 17:11, 15-19).

The religious people during the time of Jesus refused to hear His voice yet in His love He continued to call out to them (John 8:47; 10:38). Those who have heard His voice must continue to listen and to obey, and as long as they are willing no power can separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. There is no need for you to ever fear again for as long as you are willing to follow Him He will never reject you. It is God who does the saving and all we need to do is ask. God's formula for our success no matter where we are at in relationship with Him is to: hear His voice (our receptivity), "My sheep hear my voice"; as a result He knows us (the Lord's response to our call), "And I know them"; finally follow Him (our active obedience), "And they follow me."

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org