When God Says …
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:1-2 KJV)
In this chapter's opening verses, with emphasis of certainty, the Lord Jesus Christ starts by presenting an allegorical parable of two types of shepherds. He begins by describing that those who climb into the kraal in a furtive way are bandits and thieves who come not to care about the sheep but only to gain of and from them (John 10:1). In contrast, the true shepherd enters the sheep fence openly, by the gate (John 10:2).
Sadly, the false shepherds that these texts describe still abound today in the form of religious figures and quasi-believers of God. They are more interested in fleecing the flock they managed to deceive for their own personal gain, fame and power, than in feeding and protecting the sheep as the True Shepherd does. They act as if they are the shepherds instead of directing the flock to the true Shepherd in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them present themselves as the representation of Jesus on earth acting like God with claims of infallibility. None of those are true, like these Pharisees, Priests, Sadducees and leaders of the Jews, who claimed the power to judge who's a sinner or saint and the power to condemn by stoning those who they deemed a sinner. Truth is, God is the only One Lawgiver and Judge (James 4:14).
The Lord Jesus Christ did not give a special power-of-attorney representation to anyone here on earth, as He is alive and is here on earth with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. In truth, you and I, by faith in Christ Jesus through grace by His finished work on the cross, as He lives in us, all of us who are born again in Him, we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:30). The Apostle Paul, who the risen Lord Jesus appointed to be His instrument to proclaim the fullness of the gospel of grace and truth, testifies: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 ESV)
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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