Thieves and robbers

Thieves and robbers - hmmm, made me think. Went to church on Sunday, and the sermon was based on John 10 about what Jesus said about sheep pens, thieves, and robbers. Jesus actually told the Pharisees the following story as recorded in the Bible:-

"Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate. but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

You really need to read the whole chapter of John 10 - it really is very enlightening. In verse 10 in chapter 10, he says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus went on with the example that he was bringing out about the sheep. He was the gate, and he was the only one who would let the sheep in. So who were the 'sheep' he was talking about? 

The sheep he was talking about are the people who give their lives to him, regardless of who and where they are. 

Thieves and robbers were mentioned by Jesus in the parable he told the Pharisees and the people all around him. He also mentioned the hired hand, the guy who took off as soon as he saw a wolf coming. He wasn't going to hang around and protect the sheep.

The Good Shepherd, Jesus, would lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus certainly did. He gave up his life for us and paid for our sins.

He also demonstrated his love for everyone who commits their lives to him. He did this by dying for us on Calvary, years ago. Taking our sins upon himself, he gave up his mortal life to pay for all of our sins.

In verse 16, Jesus says, and I quote, "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, I lay down my life for the sheep." Jesus took our sins upon himself and killed them when he died on Calvary,

I used to follow a lot of people, and Jesus was just one of many, but then realisation came to me that Jesus really does need to be first in not just some things, but in everything you do, and I mean everything.

Got me thinking about a time way back when we were a tad younger, and the kids and some relatives all stayed at our place one particular night.

I ended up in the lounge, which was good and comfortable, but probably not a place I'd make a habit of. Anyway, things worked out so well for everyone else in the house. They all ended fast asleep, which to my mind was great - it was so quiet.

As for me, well, I never did get any sleep that night. It was around midnight, and I was there in the lounge room, all cosy and comfortable on the lounge, but wide awake when I heard something on the back patio like the screen door was opening. Did I think I heard something, or was it my imagination?

Lying there, thinking, when something made a move on the locked glass door leading into our dining room. I leapt up so quickly and switched on the veranda light so fast that I nearly fell over.

To both our surprise, he saw me, and I saw him. He was a young guy with a mask over his face, with some sort of instrument, trying to pry open the dining room glass door. I nearly fell backward, and so did he. If I hadn't been in the lounge that night, he probably could have broken into our house and taken the car keys, etc.

He took off in great haste down the carport and dodged the cars parked there. He was never seen again. I was in a state of shock.  I called the police, who came and dusted for fingerprints, which really amounted to nothing.

Back to verse 10, when Jesus said, and I repeat, "The thief comes only to steal, and destroy; (just like our thief had well and truly on his mind that night) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

So here we had our thief coming to 'steal and destroy, ' but what Jesus said then blows it really out of the water. And here it is: "But I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."

What is full life? Am I leading a rich and satisfying life? Jesus is the good shepherd, and he sacrifices his life for the sheep. We are his sheep, and he is our shepherd! So Jesus is pretty plain speaking here - He says he sacrifices his life for us. Coming to Jesus and having him lead us will certainly be a rich and satisfying life.

Examine your life and your heart. Are you judging others? Putting Jesus first automatically puts others ahead of you. It's quite amazing. Just like Jesus himself did.

You know once you give your life to Jesus, he knows you, and you know him.  Obedience to God just means full surrender to him. We can't just push surrendering to Jesus behind the kitchen door and pretend he's there when we need him.

No way! He needs to come first in our lives, and we need to surrender our total life to him.  Jesus said, "I am the way," and he certainly doesn't mean I am the way when you feel like it. He really needs to take first place in your life.

If you have any questions, please contact me. Hope you have a good few days ahead of you. God's blessings to you and yours.