Sermon nuggets Fri June 20, 2008
Theme – The good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:17-21 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-- only to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19 At these words the Jews were again divided.
20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"(NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD SACRIFICES FOR HIS SHEEP.
Dr. W.M. Thomson in The Land and the Book writes:"I have listened with intense interest to the Shepherds graphic descriptions of downright and desperate fights with savage beasts. And when the thief and the robber come, the faithful shepherd has often to put his life in his hand to defend the flock. I have known more than one case where he literally had to lay it down in the context. A poor faithful fellow last spring between Tiberias and Taboar, instead of fleeing, actually fought three Bedawin robbers until he was hacked to pieces with their khanjars, and died among the sheep he was defending. " The true shepherd never hesitated to risk, and even to lay down his life for his sheep.
Sheep were supposed to die for the shepherd, not the other way around. In fact in the Old Testament, the lambs were used for sacrifice to cover the sins of the sinners so they can have access to God. Now we read the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep. Five times in this sermon, Jesus clearly affirmed the sacrificial nature of His death.
He does so because of obedience to His Father in Heaven. He also saw the cross and the glory together. He never doubted that He must die; and He equally never doubted that He would rise again. Suffering was for a moment, but glory was for all eternity. But praise God, Jesus does not stay dead. He takes up His life again. His voluntary death for the sheep was followed by the resurrection. From the human point of view Jesus was executed; but from heavenly view Jesus laid down his life willingly. He voluntarily took up His life again and arose from the dead.
The people responded to Jesus' words with accusations that he was a madman. Either he was, or he was not the Son of God. When we evaluate his words He was not mad; when we evaluate His actions He was not out of control of His senses; when we evaluate His power and authority they were impossible for a madman to duplicate. Certainly His motives were not the motives of a madman. Millions upon million of people have had their lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ.
This Christ who is portrayed as both a lamb and a shepherd came to Bethlehem millennia ago to call us to follow Him. He protects us by his love. He saves us by faith. He knows us by his omniscience. And He sacrificed for us that we might know the glories of God. The conclusions are real for those who really want to know and willing to place their lives in his care. He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Pastor Dale
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Shepherd Knows -John 10:14-16
Sermon nuggets Thurs June 19
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:14-16
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 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.(NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP.
The word, know, means more than intellectual awareness. It also means an intimate relationship between God and His people. The Eastern shepherd knows his sheep personally and therefore knows best how to minister to them.
It says that He calls them all by name. Our Lord knows and cares about all who are His. He cares about you and knows you by name. Isn't it amazing that the one born 2,000 years ago, and of course existed before the world began thinks you are important to Him? He notices and cares about individuals. The Psalmist tells us before we are born God formed us and created us for Himself just as He wanted.
Jesus knows our natures. While all sheep are alike in their essential nature, each sheep has its own distinctive characteristics; and the loving shepherd recognizes these traits. One may be afraid of heights another of dark shadows. Because Jesus knows our natures, he also knows our needs. The 23rd Psalm reminds us that in the pastures, by the waters, and even through the valleys, the sheep need not fear, because the shepherd is caring for them and meeting their needs.
The Word also tells us that not only did he know the lost sheep of Israel, but that He knows another flock. Aren't you glad that Jesus did not leave salvation only for the Jews like they once thought? Jesus has more sheep. We gentiles were included in this one flock. The church was not to remain a Jewish flock. Peter and Paul took the message to the Gentiles and God prepared their hearts to receive it. There is but one flock. The people of God who belong to the Good Shepherd and follow him are God’s sheep. There are not two groups of sheep that belong to God has some teach. There are Jews and Gentiles who are following Christ.
The unity of the flock is not that there will be one denominational church. The correct translation, as NIV also has it, is one flock, not one fold. There is a difference. "They shall become one flock and there shall be one shepherd". Unity comes from the fact that all the sheep hear and answer and obey one shepherd and that is Jesus Christ. Unity is not an ecclesiastical unity; the unity is a unity of loyalty to Jesus the Good Shepherd.
The love of the Shepherd is not in a large generic way, but in an intimate and personal way. The Hymn writer sings, “He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known.”
The joy for the believer is that we each one can know the Lord because we are personally known and loved by Him.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:14-16
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 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.(NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP.
The word, know, means more than intellectual awareness. It also means an intimate relationship between God and His people. The Eastern shepherd knows his sheep personally and therefore knows best how to minister to them.
It says that He calls them all by name. Our Lord knows and cares about all who are His. He cares about you and knows you by name. Isn't it amazing that the one born 2,000 years ago, and of course existed before the world began thinks you are important to Him? He notices and cares about individuals. The Psalmist tells us before we are born God formed us and created us for Himself just as He wanted.
Jesus knows our natures. While all sheep are alike in their essential nature, each sheep has its own distinctive characteristics; and the loving shepherd recognizes these traits. One may be afraid of heights another of dark shadows. Because Jesus knows our natures, he also knows our needs. The 23rd Psalm reminds us that in the pastures, by the waters, and even through the valleys, the sheep need not fear, because the shepherd is caring for them and meeting their needs.
The Word also tells us that not only did he know the lost sheep of Israel, but that He knows another flock. Aren't you glad that Jesus did not leave salvation only for the Jews like they once thought? Jesus has more sheep. We gentiles were included in this one flock. The church was not to remain a Jewish flock. Peter and Paul took the message to the Gentiles and God prepared their hearts to receive it. There is but one flock. The people of God who belong to the Good Shepherd and follow him are God’s sheep. There are not two groups of sheep that belong to God has some teach. There are Jews and Gentiles who are following Christ.
The unity of the flock is not that there will be one denominational church. The correct translation, as NIV also has it, is one flock, not one fold. There is a difference. "They shall become one flock and there shall be one shepherd". Unity comes from the fact that all the sheep hear and answer and obey one shepherd and that is Jesus Christ. Unity is not an ecclesiastical unity; the unity is a unity of loyalty to Jesus the Good Shepherd.
The love of the Shepherd is not in a large generic way, but in an intimate and personal way. The Hymn writer sings, “He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known.”
The joy for the believer is that we each one can know the Lord because we are personally known and loved by Him.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Saving the Sheep- John 10:9,10
Sermon nuggets Weds June 18, 2008
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:9-10 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD SAVES HIS SHEEP.
When Jesus referred to himself as the door He was not only referring to their protection, but also through Him and through Him alone men find access to God. Jesus opens the way to God. Until Jesus came men could only think of God as a stranger, someone to be worshiped in fear. Jesus came to tell and to show mankind what God was like. He came to open the way to God.
It is Jesus' claim that He came that men might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The phrase more abundantly is Greek phrase which means to have a surplus, a super abundance of something. Life in Christ is far greater than people can realize.
I remember being at a meeting where people went around at Christmas time sharing Christmas memories. One man had his eyes light up and said simply, “Christ makes Christmas meaningful.” As he lived in a non-Christian home there was love, there were presents, there was fun and activities, but there was not Jesus Christ. But when he accepted Christ into his life as an adult, he became aware of the spiritual reality of the abiding presence of God who loved him and saved him from his sin and eternal death. That thought was overwhelming.
Christ was always part of my Christmases growing up in a Christian home and accepting Jesus early in life. But for many who grew up without the reality of Jesus' personal presence, they understand even more fully the meaning of this statement, “I will give you life and give it to its fullest.” He not only gave eternal life, but meaningful life for the here and now.
The disciples considered it pure joy to suffer for the sake of Christ. They did not have material goods; they did not have lives of ease when they were jailed, beaten, and persecuted. But they had something the others didn't. They had the joy within that made it all worth it.
Beware however of the false shepherds. I read a testimonial yesterday of a woman who had given up on church. She was involved in a smaller congregation when the beloved pastor of many years was forced out. The people wanted someone who was dynamic in the pulpit. The church then grew. The new pastor asked her to go with him in her teens to witness in the community. When they returned he invited her into his home for ice cream. She was confused when he snuggled up to her and starting feeling her. He was a man of God so it must be okay she thought. But since that day she kept her distance, until he was forced out two years later for adultery.
The next pastor was found to have a stash of pornography. The following pastor introduced a false teaching and split the church down the middle. She gave up on church.
Jesus said to beware of false teachers, prophets, and leaders. False shepherds are in it for what they want and not for the love of the sheep. Behind these false shepherds is the thief probably a reference to Satan. The thief wants to steal the sheep from the Master, and have eternal punishment as they consequence. He wants to destroy them, and us. He wants you to think there are other ways to be saved than trusting and following Jesus. He wants you to think you must earn your way, or that you are without hope for forgiveness, or that you will be so embittered with life that you will hate God. He will cause circumstance to be so good you will not want Jesus, or so bad you will blame Jesus. Some will see shepherds get abused. Others will see the shepherds doing the abusing. But keep looking to the good Shepherd and persevere in what you know He says and wants of you.
When you go through the door you receive life and you are saved. As you go in and out, you enjoy abundant life in the rich provision of the Lord. God's sheep enjoy fullness and freedom. He who enters by the door will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:9-10 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD SAVES HIS SHEEP.
When Jesus referred to himself as the door He was not only referring to their protection, but also through Him and through Him alone men find access to God. Jesus opens the way to God. Until Jesus came men could only think of God as a stranger, someone to be worshiped in fear. Jesus came to tell and to show mankind what God was like. He came to open the way to God.
It is Jesus' claim that He came that men might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The phrase more abundantly is Greek phrase which means to have a surplus, a super abundance of something. Life in Christ is far greater than people can realize.
I remember being at a meeting where people went around at Christmas time sharing Christmas memories. One man had his eyes light up and said simply, “Christ makes Christmas meaningful.” As he lived in a non-Christian home there was love, there were presents, there was fun and activities, but there was not Jesus Christ. But when he accepted Christ into his life as an adult, he became aware of the spiritual reality of the abiding presence of God who loved him and saved him from his sin and eternal death. That thought was overwhelming.
Christ was always part of my Christmases growing up in a Christian home and accepting Jesus early in life. But for many who grew up without the reality of Jesus' personal presence, they understand even more fully the meaning of this statement, “I will give you life and give it to its fullest.” He not only gave eternal life, but meaningful life for the here and now.
The disciples considered it pure joy to suffer for the sake of Christ. They did not have material goods; they did not have lives of ease when they were jailed, beaten, and persecuted. But they had something the others didn't. They had the joy within that made it all worth it.
Beware however of the false shepherds. I read a testimonial yesterday of a woman who had given up on church. She was involved in a smaller congregation when the beloved pastor of many years was forced out. The people wanted someone who was dynamic in the pulpit. The church then grew. The new pastor asked her to go with him in her teens to witness in the community. When they returned he invited her into his home for ice cream. She was confused when he snuggled up to her and starting feeling her. He was a man of God so it must be okay she thought. But since that day she kept her distance, until he was forced out two years later for adultery.
The next pastor was found to have a stash of pornography. The following pastor introduced a false teaching and split the church down the middle. She gave up on church.
Jesus said to beware of false teachers, prophets, and leaders. False shepherds are in it for what they want and not for the love of the sheep. Behind these false shepherds is the thief probably a reference to Satan. The thief wants to steal the sheep from the Master, and have eternal punishment as they consequence. He wants to destroy them, and us. He wants you to think there are other ways to be saved than trusting and following Jesus. He wants you to think you must earn your way, or that you are without hope for forgiveness, or that you will be so embittered with life that you will hate God. He will cause circumstance to be so good you will not want Jesus, or so bad you will blame Jesus. Some will see shepherds get abused. Others will see the shepherds doing the abusing. But keep looking to the good Shepherd and persevere in what you know He says and wants of you.
When you go through the door you receive life and you are saved. As you go in and out, you enjoy abundant life in the rich provision of the Lord. God's sheep enjoy fullness and freedom. He who enters by the door will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Protection John 10:7,8,11
Sermon nuggets Tues June 17
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:7-11Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS HIS SHEEP. V..7,8,11
The fact that this teaching follows the episode of the one born blind being excommunicated from the synagogue is not coincidental. Jesus showed himself to the man and that man became a believer. Jesus' response was to say they can throw you out of a synagogue but they cannot throw you out of the Kingdom of Heaven, because I am the door, and they are not. Only the door can shut you out and I am it. No church, no pastor, no denomination, no pope or priest is the door, only Christ. He opens and closes and no man can do that.
Out in the fields, the sheep fold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, with an opening for the door. The shepherd would guard the flock, at night by lying across the opening. Quite literally he was the door, or gate keeping sheep in while he slept and keeping out other thieves, or protecting them from beasts. This is the type of figure that Jesus used when he called himself the door.
Or it was not unusual for several flocks to be sheltered together in the same fold in a small town or village. Sometimes there would be a paid guard, or porter who would make the shepherd identify himself if he was to get into the sheep fold. In the morning the shepherds would come, call their sheep, and assemble their own flocks. The thieves and robbers could never enter through the door, so they have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception.
Such protection was needed to keep the flock safe from wild animals, and evil men. Jesus tells the truth that there are also evil people out to divide, spoil and steal believers. Satan seeks to destroy churches and cause new and Christians to give up their faith. The church is always liable to attack from outside like the wolves and the robbers, and it is always liable to trouble form the inside from the false shepherd or a hireling. The church risks double danger. If the shepherd is faithful and good there is strong defense from the attack from the outside; but if the shepherd is faithless then the foes from outside can penetrate and destroy the flock.
There are cults outside of the truth of the Bible that will twist Scripture and prey on people's ignorance of the Bible. There are people who will show you another way to salvation, and use human reasoning to convince you. There is a tactic of Satan to take a flock and divide it through dissension. There are plenty of churches that split, not over doctrine, but over attitudes of pride, power, selfishness, and immaturity. How different is the spirit of Jesus. The church's first essential is a leadership which is based on the example of Jesus Christ. A good shepherd protects his sheep. There is protection for you and me in the security of the sheep fold, under the protection of our Master. Keep in the word. Keep in prayer. Keep in the fellowship of believers. Keep active in your spiritual faith and walk. Flee sin and temptation. These are the instructions of our Shepherd.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:7-11Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS HIS SHEEP. V..7,8,11
The fact that this teaching follows the episode of the one born blind being excommunicated from the synagogue is not coincidental. Jesus showed himself to the man and that man became a believer. Jesus' response was to say they can throw you out of a synagogue but they cannot throw you out of the Kingdom of Heaven, because I am the door, and they are not. Only the door can shut you out and I am it. No church, no pastor, no denomination, no pope or priest is the door, only Christ. He opens and closes and no man can do that.
Out in the fields, the sheep fold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, with an opening for the door. The shepherd would guard the flock, at night by lying across the opening. Quite literally he was the door, or gate keeping sheep in while he slept and keeping out other thieves, or protecting them from beasts. This is the type of figure that Jesus used when he called himself the door.
Or it was not unusual for several flocks to be sheltered together in the same fold in a small town or village. Sometimes there would be a paid guard, or porter who would make the shepherd identify himself if he was to get into the sheep fold. In the morning the shepherds would come, call their sheep, and assemble their own flocks. The thieves and robbers could never enter through the door, so they have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception.
Such protection was needed to keep the flock safe from wild animals, and evil men. Jesus tells the truth that there are also evil people out to divide, spoil and steal believers. Satan seeks to destroy churches and cause new and Christians to give up their faith. The church is always liable to attack from outside like the wolves and the robbers, and it is always liable to trouble form the inside from the false shepherd or a hireling. The church risks double danger. If the shepherd is faithful and good there is strong defense from the attack from the outside; but if the shepherd is faithless then the foes from outside can penetrate and destroy the flock.
There are cults outside of the truth of the Bible that will twist Scripture and prey on people's ignorance of the Bible. There are people who will show you another way to salvation, and use human reasoning to convince you. There is a tactic of Satan to take a flock and divide it through dissension. There are plenty of churches that split, not over doctrine, but over attitudes of pride, power, selfishness, and immaturity. How different is the spirit of Jesus. The church's first essential is a leadership which is based on the example of Jesus Christ. A good shepherd protects his sheep. There is protection for you and me in the security of the sheep fold, under the protection of our Master. Keep in the word. Keep in prayer. Keep in the fellowship of believers. Keep active in your spiritual faith and walk. Flee sin and temptation. These are the instructions of our Shepherd.
Pastor Dale
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Good Shepherd Calls Us. John 10:1-6
Sermon nuggets Mon June 16
Theme THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:1-21
Verses- John 10:1-6 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 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."
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
A GOOD SHEPHERD CALLS HIS SHEEP. v. 1-6
One of the most endearing figures in the Bible of the relationship of God to his people is the figure of being a Shepherd to Sheep. The Jews well knew the allegory of David's 23rd Psalm, and many others also. Now Jesus uses this same figure to describe himself in relationship to his followers. He is the good shepherd. This is another allusion to Jesus divinity. The Church is His sheep.
The New Testament also speaks of leaders of the Church as shepherds and people as flock. It is the duty of the leader to feed the flock of God, to accept the oversight willingly and not by constraint, to do it eagerly and not for the love of money, not to use the position for exercise of power but to be an example to the flock. These teachings are in I Peter 5:2,3.
A shepherd is known by the sheep. They follow his voice. They trust Him. It is not uncommon even today in various parts of the world for flocks to intermingle. Shepherds would get together and visit, eat, socialize, or sleep, and in the morning would call their own flocks and amazingly the sheep would divide up according to the voice of the shepherd. There was a special relationship between good shepherds and sheep.
The relationship is quite different in Palestine because sheep are largely kept for wool and milk, so it was the case that sheep were often with the shepherd for years. The shepherd would often give his sheep special names. He would call them by their names. The shepherd went down a path first to see that it was safe, and there were no dangers. Then call the sheep that would follow his voice. A thief could never get sheep to follow him, because they would not recognize his voice, so he must steal them.
It is clear in the Gospels that the religious rulers of Israel were interested only in providing for themselves and protecting themselves. The Pharisees were covetous, and even took advantage of the poor widows. They turned God's temple into a den of thieves robbing the poor people by requiring them to purchase at inflated prices special blessed animals. They exchanged money at enormous rates. They plotted to kill Jesus so that Rome would not take away their privileges.
Lewis Timberlake wrote when Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?"
Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." It was a pointed reply. We are not looking for the easy road, but rather the road where Jesus calls us for he goes before us and the easy road where he is not will only lead to destruction.
There are others who will call us to follow them and do what they want us to do, but the follower of Jesus will commit himself of listening to the voice of the good shepherd. Any other voice will only mislead us.
Pastor Dale
Theme THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:1-21
Verses- John 10:1-6 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 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."
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
A GOOD SHEPHERD CALLS HIS SHEEP. v. 1-6
One of the most endearing figures in the Bible of the relationship of God to his people is the figure of being a Shepherd to Sheep. The Jews well knew the allegory of David's 23rd Psalm, and many others also. Now Jesus uses this same figure to describe himself in relationship to his followers. He is the good shepherd. This is another allusion to Jesus divinity. The Church is His sheep.
The New Testament also speaks of leaders of the Church as shepherds and people as flock. It is the duty of the leader to feed the flock of God, to accept the oversight willingly and not by constraint, to do it eagerly and not for the love of money, not to use the position for exercise of power but to be an example to the flock. These teachings are in I Peter 5:2,3.
A shepherd is known by the sheep. They follow his voice. They trust Him. It is not uncommon even today in various parts of the world for flocks to intermingle. Shepherds would get together and visit, eat, socialize, or sleep, and in the morning would call their own flocks and amazingly the sheep would divide up according to the voice of the shepherd. There was a special relationship between good shepherds and sheep.
The relationship is quite different in Palestine because sheep are largely kept for wool and milk, so it was the case that sheep were often with the shepherd for years. The shepherd would often give his sheep special names. He would call them by their names. The shepherd went down a path first to see that it was safe, and there were no dangers. Then call the sheep that would follow his voice. A thief could never get sheep to follow him, because they would not recognize his voice, so he must steal them.
It is clear in the Gospels that the religious rulers of Israel were interested only in providing for themselves and protecting themselves. The Pharisees were covetous, and even took advantage of the poor widows. They turned God's temple into a den of thieves robbing the poor people by requiring them to purchase at inflated prices special blessed animals. They exchanged money at enormous rates. They plotted to kill Jesus so that Rome would not take away their privileges.
Lewis Timberlake wrote when Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?"
Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." It was a pointed reply. We are not looking for the easy road, but rather the road where Jesus calls us for he goes before us and the easy road where he is not will only lead to destruction.
There are others who will call us to follow them and do what they want us to do, but the follower of Jesus will commit himself of listening to the voice of the good shepherd. Any other voice will only mislead us.
Pastor Dale
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