“Listen And Follow!”(Jn.10:27-30).
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Recently, the Bali Cultural Association in Europe decided to give a token financial assistance to all the teachers of Basic education in Bali subdivision. When I asked the headteachers to submit the list of their teachers to me, some did, but some did not. When the token gift came and we started going round to pay to the teachers, some headteachers were like, “Rev, I’ve not seen my school.” My response : “Did you give me the list of your teachers?”
Such is how it is with Jesus the “Good Shepherd.” The goodness of the good shepherd doesn’t mean he tends all the sheep in his community. He tends only the sheep that belong to him or that comes to him when expected.
The Lord Jesus Christ has come into the world with the offer of his love and the free gift of eternal life to all humanity. However, whatever is “free-to-all” is never benefited by all who are present. We note that “free-to-all” is not a “free-for-all.”
A “free-for-all” is a situation in which several people or groups are trying to get something for themselves and there are no controls on how they do it…”
On the contrary, Jesus’ offer of love and the free gift of eternal life is systematical, orderly, and without any reason for a stampede. It is benefited by those who enlist when they are requested to do so. Such are the sheep that listen to his voice and follow him. He knows them and gives them eternal life, and they shall not perish.
Those that the Father has given to the Son cannot be snatched from him. This is to say Satan has no power over those whom God has given Jesus to shepherd. They are in the hands of the Father himself because Jesus and the Father are one.
My friend, do you belong to Jesus? Do you listen to his voice and follow him? If so, you are safe in his arms.
If you have been saved, the Lord is asking you to go and bring others in.
There is this missionary song by Daniel March, which suggests to you what you can do in your own little way to enhance the saving of souls. May the Lord bless you as you pick something out of the song and do it for the sake of the gospel.
Shalom!
1.Hark! the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are white, the harvest waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calls out,
Rich reward he offers free:
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”
- If you cannot cross the ocean
And the foreign lands explore,
You can find the needy nearer,
You can help them at your door.
If you cannot give in thousands,
You can give the widow’s mite,
And the least you give for Jesus,
Will be precious in his sight. - If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked,
With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You may lead the little children,
To the Savior’s waiting arms. - Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
While the lost of Earth are dying,
And the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly;
Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he’s calling,
“Here am I, send, send me.”