In our zeal to proclaim the Word of God made flesh, Jesus, we can be wrong in our approach. If Jesus and the love of the Father is held up in truth others will be drawn to Him. We have no power BUT by abiding in Christ His power works miracles in the lives of others.
Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
Acts 22:5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
Faith in His resurrection power to accomplish what we cannot is key. We just plant the seed it is Holy Spirit who takes the seed and makes it grow. It is nothing to do with us but everything to do with Him.
John 10:11 (ESV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Even though it's tempting to believe He isn't with me if I can't feel His presence, Jesus' words in John 10:10-11 remind me He is always here and willing to help: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
God doesn't intend for us to be confused, directionless or lost. He came to give us abundant life and guide us as the Good Shepherd. Jesus Himself unpacks what this means and why we can place our trust in Him.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me ..." (John 10:14).
This is so much more than simply "head knowledge" and facts. This is more of a heart knowledge. This is a mother's knowing of the cry of her child, or one best friend knowing how to finish the other's sentences. It is deep, intimate. And it declares to us that we are seen, secure and safe in His love.
But when Jesus made a declarative statement in John 10:7, "I am the door of the sheep," He confirmed that the only way to salvation is through Him. Consider this bold claim! Jesus is not just an alternative or better way ... He is the only way to the Father.
Therefore, Jesus is the only way to the Father's best plans for us. We have access to the abundant and good life that Christ offers simply through our faith in Him. Today, let's thank Jesus for being "the door" (John 10:7) and be on the alert to hear and respond to His voice. First 5
And when I see only procedure and creed, over journey and faith and heart—seeing only the "right notes" or the "right answer" or the "right stuff" or “when real life begins”—I miss having my world shaken in a good way.
I miss opportunity, learning, change, transformation and grace.
I miss being connected to my heart, to this Terry.
This morning I watched an interview with David Brooks about his column “Being humane in inhumane times.” He said, moving forward we need to honor “audacity of the heart. What people need in hard and brutal times is recognition. I see you. I will respect you. You’re a human being with a soul. Lead with curiosity and respect and trust.”
This does my heart good...
In the Christian church, it is Advent season. A blessed Advent to all. This Sunday, we will light the candle of Hope. SabbathMoments
Acts 9:1-5
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” The New King James Version
Saul may not have been the actual executioner, but his arrests led to the imprisonment and deaths of many in the Church.
Paul: A Life of Redemption and Transformation This experience of Jesus’ glory is so overwhelming that it forces Saul to the ground. Jesus’ repetition of Saul’s name may suggest a sense of urgency or of compassion. A repetition of a name occurs at several key points in the ot when God directly calls someone to a special office or role. Jesus both confronts Saul’s sin and commissions him for apostolic ministry.
In persecuting the Church, Saul persecutes Jesus Himself. Saul’s question, as well as Jesus’ response with the words “I am” (egō eimi in Greek), may be an allusion to Moses’ encounter with Yahweh in the burning bush. Like Moses, Saul is here being called by Yahweh to rescue a people (in Saul’s case, the Gentiles). Faithlife Study Bible
Saul was still restless in his zeal to defend his Jewish faith from the new, supposedly dangerous Jewish messianic sect. Christians were originally referred to as “disciples” and “belonging to the Way.” Jesus Himself had used both of these titles.
Disciple means a follower, an imitator, one who has a master. The letters were documents authorizing Saul to arrest Christians in Damascus, 140 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Rome permitted the Jewish Sanhedrin to control Jewish affairs. At this time the new church was a Jewish affair.
The early Jewish believers in Jesus were still attending the synagogues. The synagogues in Damascus had to cooperate with anyone who had the authorization that Saul possessed. Saul planned to take the followers of Jesus who had escaped to Damascus back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Sanhedrin, and probably to face a death sentence.
A light shone that was brighter than the sun and continued to shine around Saul. The light was so intense and penetrating that Saul fell to the ground, as did everyone who was with him.
In persecuting the church, Saul was persecuting the body of Christ whose individual members are in Christ. The NKJV Study Bible
Acts 9:21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
Acts 22:7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Acts 26:14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
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