John 10:14-18; 25-30
14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No 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.”
The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
Do I believe that God is sovereign? That He is my Lord? In His Lordship, do I respect and submit to his sovereignty?
Do I believe this to be so?
Have a truly trusted and entrusted myself to God and the Lordship of Jesus?
Do I believe that he will finish the work that He’s begun in me?
Do I believe that he “...works all things out for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes”? (Rom 8)
Do I believe God is wise? Do I believe that God is wise in His loving and caring? Do I believe his intentions for his children are good? Am I one of His children?
Do I believe God‘s word is just that, His word? Inerrant and true?
Do I trust God‘s word to be true in regard to His love for me, His intentions for me, His eternal purpose for me, His ways and manner, His ability and commitment His promise to get me to eternity?
Do I believe that God’s ways are higher than mine? (Isa 55) Do I believe that God‘s wisdom is higher than man’s wisdom? (Prov 8; Ps 104; 136; 1Cor 1-2; Col 2) Do I believe God “so loved the world“? (John 3:16)
Do I believe His word is the expression of his wisdom, his ways, his intentions, his will, and his loving it and loving expression on behalf of, and for his glory, and the welfare of his children, and the expression of his kingdom? (John 1)
If I said yes to any and all of these, then let my heart be open to what His word has to say today - even, or especially, If it is opposed to my own thinking and philosophy, way and ways.
May we trust Him and His love and wisdom enough to obey Him… today
1Pet 2:11,13-17 “... submit to…”
11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles… (even though this may not be your home, respect the authority under which you currently and temporarily reside as an example to others of how we live entrusted to our King as His representatives) 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
“...submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake…”
To submit is to: Place (one’s self) under God's arrangement; submitting to the Lord; Obey, be subject
“For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence…”
The establishment of government is an earthly expression of a kingdom truth: we are to be ruled
Submission to authority
Trust and faith in God and His sovereignty
Discernment in regard to whom I entrust myself
Ultimately, submitting to God’s rule, which He extends through the hands of those He has established to govern.
Refusal to submit is your telling God they He is wrong, and that He is not truly sovereign
Romans 13:1-7 Submission to Governing Authorities
1Let everyone better subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Perhaps we have had our eye on the wrong subject… it ought not be the government, but the Shepherd of my soul
Seeing, knowing the difference of my sojourning here on earth and my true citizenship in heaven and who, or Who, my Lord and ruler is - my true protector and provider - Jesus
So it is as if Peter is making a point of emphasis as a challenge to us all… that IF this is true of a slave, how much more we who are “free”?
2:16 “slaves…” (1Cor 7:21-24; Eph 6:5-9; Phm 1:8-21; 1Tim 6:1-2; Tit 2:9-10; Col 3:22-25)
Submit: to one’s control
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving…
Titus 2:10b “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”
Why do we remain here on earth, what is the purpose?
Ambassadorship and it’s privilege
Develop in us a longing in us for heavenly, kingdom, eternal things
Gen 2:18-20 Go back to Adam and the naming of the animals - dissatisfaction for what is, to make space for what will be
Choose the “I love you, too”
1John 4:10, 19 - For “we love BECAUSE He loves is first”. And that by…
Choice, preference, and calling
Making us the object of His affection and attention
Care and provision
He desires for us, in this place of temptation and titillation, to say back to Him “I love you, too”. And that by…
Choice, preference and calling - agape
Trusting him and His word enough to obey - John 14:21
Making Him the object us our affection and attention - Lord
Security and hope - refuge
Therefore our love for God, in Christ, by His Spirit is in response to His mercy (Rom 12:1) and “I love you, too”
“Live as free, but do not use your freedom as a coverup for evil” (also see Gal 5)
1Pet 2:21-25 suffering for the believer, the child of God, begins with their longing as an alien and stranger for their true home-land and continues through living under the effect of sin, grieving sin’s destruction in the lives around them (1Pet 1:1; 2:11)
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
“...the shepherd of our souls.”
Return: to turn one’s self to…
Of this Shepherd we can know, be confident, place ourselves as to trust His eternal care and entrust ourselves to that care...
Although I may be subject to the authorities here, it is to the Good Shepherd I entrust my eternal self - and I show the truth of this faith by trusting His word, being subject to authority that He Himself has established to accomplish His will
And our willingness to honor these authorities is a proof of our trust in our sovereign Father and His gentle and sure care
Phil 1:6 “6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
X John 10:25-30 my sheep know my voice, no one can snatch away
John 10
14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father… 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all c ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
Jesus Prays for All Believers
John 17:20-26
20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you e known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Psalm 23:1, 4,6
Isaiah 43:13
Isa 40
