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12/20 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 24; Revelation 11; Zechariah 7; John 10
John 10:14
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me,”
FLOCK
We all know that it is the Lord Jesus who builds His church; it is His work, not yours or mine (Matt 16:18). The unity of Christ’s flock is His work as well. Christ laid down His life for His sheep by His sacrificial death upon the cross (John 10:11), and His people, both Jew and Gentile, are one flock (John 10:16). The unity of the Good Shepherd’s flock, I’ve heard it said, “is a reality, not a responsibility.” Of course, it is. It must be, since the building and unity of Christ’s church is His work.
Some years ago, I was scolded by a retired pastor because I wouldn’t chase after a man who wouldn’t come back to church. The reason that man wouldn’t bring his family to church was that the man didn’t think the previous pastor visited him enough.
“Was Christ preached when the man came to church?” I asked.
The pastor nodded.
“Do I preach Christ crucified?” I asked again.
“Every service,” he replied softly.
As tenderly as I could, I said, “If the witness of Christ doesn’t bring them in, and the preaching of Christ doesn’t keep them in, then they want something other than the Lord Jesus, and there’s nothing I can do for them.”
In the past 20 years, I’ve seen so many instances when folks want to add something to Christ Jesus— perhaps He must be preached in a certain way; the service must honor Him just so; broken lives haven’t been changed fast enough; etcetera, ad infinitum. At my last church, there was even one who didn’t come back because we didn’t take up an offering; we just had a box in the back.
The Good Shepherd needs nothing added to His character or His sovereign work. Christ knowing His sheep, and His sheep knowing Him, is the most glorious gift in the universe for all eternity. Jesus calls us by name and we hear His voice. That should be enough to keep His flock united. Hallelujah! What a unifying Savior!
Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd,
He knows His sheep by name;
And when He speaks, His voice is heard
With love, not fear, nor shame.
very good.
Amen!!! 🙏❤️