Category: Church

FOLLOW JESUS!!! Not your church…or pastor, or friend…

Published on by DorcasLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10: 9)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10: 11 – 14)

OBSERVATION

The man who was blind had just been healed by Jesus and he had testified to the Pharisees of what Jesus had done for him.  The Pharisees in their stubbornness refused to hear this man’s testimony and decided to throw him out of the synagogue.  Jesus went to look for him because He knew this man had been persecuted because of what He had done and so He went to comfort him.

In so many words Jesus said to the formerly blind man, if you believe in me then although they have thrown you out of the church, you have nothing to fear.   He said I am the True Shepherd and those who follow Me will be protected as I will lay down My life to save those who believe in Me. Jesus said “you will go in and out and find pasture”, so whether you are in this synagogue or outside you will live in peace.  Even if they reject you, you can find acceptance in Me.  As long as you believe in Me, I am the one who will care for all your needs and your salvation.  Follow Me and I will always have food (spiritual) for you to eat, for I am the Bread of Life.

APPLICATION

I cannot and should not place my trust in the church or pastor to care, save or protect me in times of trouble.  Despite the pastor’s role as a ‘shepherd’, there are some who may even sacrifice me for their own benefit as the Pharisees did by throwing this man out of the church.  Just as Jesus said, the ‘hireling’ or hired Pharisee does not own the sheep (as Jesus does) and may leave the sheep to be attacked by the wolves, so that they can save themselves.    For example, sometimes, people’s spiritual needs suffer because pastors fail to act to protect members of the congregation because to do so may affect tithes – this is a very real scenario.

People may leave or be cast out of the church, but it does not mean they no longer believe in Jesus, indeed they may have a very strong faith, just as the formerly blind man did. Jesus does not want us to place our spiritual needs or salvation in the hands of a synagogue, church, pastor or anyone else, for they can neither offer us heaven nor hell.  Jesus is the only door through which our spiritual needs can be met, or through which we can enter into salvation.  If I am truly following Jesus, what else can anyone offer me that Jesus cannot provide?

Quite simply, my faith and trust should be in Jesus.  It was Jesus who laid down His life and paid for my sins. I do not belong to a church, I belong to Jesus and I will follow Him.

PRAYER

Father God

You are a Mighty God and Worthy to be Praised and Adored.  Thank You for reminding us that You love us enough to sacrifice Your only Son that we could be saved.  Thank You Jesus that You were willing to die for us and pay the penalty of our sins.

Thank You for being the True Shepherd who takes care of His sheep. Please remind us daily that our faith and trust should be in You to lead us through life.  Please help us to rely on you to meet our spiritual needs and not on our church or pastor.  One day those people may be there for us, but on another day, they may not be.  But You Lord are the Good Shepherd, ever-present and willing to lead and protect. You promised that wherever we are, in or outside of a church, as long as we  believe in and follow You, we will find peace and sustenance in Your green pastures… forever.

In Jesus’ Name

Amen

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He Must Increase…

Published on by DorcasLeave a comment

“Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.  And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3: 22 – 30

OBSERVATION

This scripture reminds me of the doctrinal differences that separate us as Christians into the various churches and denominations.   Unfortunately, we squabble between and within churches about whose doctrines are right or wrong and seek to win people over to our church on this basis. Jesus and his disciples were baptizing people.  John and his disciples were also baptizing people.  There was a dispute between John’s disciples and a Jew about what one could perceive as a doctrinal matter regarding purification (ceremonial washing).  The Jew then tried to undermine John’s conviction or understanding of purification by saying that all the people were going to Jesus to be baptized.

Rather than argue over the matter and cause division, John pledged allegiance to Christ under one body serving God.  John described himself as the friend of the Bridegroom (Jesus) who is just happy to see the bride (people/church) and the Bridegroom united, and on this basis his joy is fulfilled.  John showed the Jew that being joined to Christ is the most important matter.

APPLICATION

There will be times during my faith where people from different religions or denominations will question my beliefs.  Should I be able to explain what I believe?  Of course I should.  Nevertheless, John’s example suggests that doctrinal differences are not to be dwelt upon as they can become divisive.  Moreover, we must be careful that we do not indulge in our own selfish pride to win a theological battle. It’s not about us, it’s about Jesus.  “He must increase, but I must decrease”.  As long as people have accepted Christ into their lives through baptism – our joy should be full.

It is also interesting to note that at the beginning of chapter 4, Jesus decides to retreat especially after the Pharisees knew Jesus baptized more people than John. “Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John  (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),  He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.” John 4:1.  If Jesus can be humble and selfless enough to retreat for the sake of unity under One God, I can too.

PRAYER

Father God, it is a blessing to read your Holy Word, I marvel at how relevant it is to our lives today.  Thank you Lord for leaving this Book of Wisdom with us so that we can learn to manage our lives according to Your Will.

I pray that you will help us not to draw attention to ourselves or doctrinal matters that are more likely to divide than unite and may have little bearing upon our salvation.  Help us to retreat and humble ourselves as Jesus did.  Teach us to rejoice and glorify You as John did when people find You, even if they do not join our church or denomination. They are not joining us or our church… they are joining You.

In Jesus’ Name

Amen