Tag Archives: I am crucified with Christ

What Does God Expect??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #492

21 Wednesday Oct 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God of all comfort!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus SinLESS Son of God

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Does God Expect??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #492

 

Jesus makes it very clear that to know Him and follow Him, I must die to myself and be ready to live for Him, through His Holy Spirit, and walk the narrow path that leads to life, as my Lord directs my steps; but it requires the new birth! (See Matthew 7:13-14)

“Saying,

The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected of the elders

and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:22-25

Paul reiterated this very thought in his letter to the Galatian believers—not seeking to live a successful life on my own before the world–but being yielded to Jesus in my life, my all! This can only be done when we are enabled to live the “crucified” life—dying to self each day, and living unto Jesus; walking by faith and the direction of His Holy Spirit in all our ways.  Not easy but remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…”!  Only by being born again of the Spirit of God!  Living the new birth on display before a lost and dying world in need of a Savior!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

The Apostle John explained this in his Gospel.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

Jesus—what God gives to meet His own expectations; His very Son to die for my sin and yours, if we’ll but repent of our sin, in trust and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin; receiving the new birth, becoming “sons of God”!

God also spoke through His prophet Micah, with an amazing picture of the character of God, which Jesus came to replicate in us; not just keeping ten commandments, or ever the Law of Moses, but having His Spirit within us as His reborn, adopted children.  How about you, have you been to Calvary and received this new birth?  I pray that you have!

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD,

and bow myself before the high God?

shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves of a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased

with thousands of rams,

or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man,

what is good;

and what doth the LORD require of thee,

but to do justly,

and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly

with thy God?”  Micah 6:6-8

I’ll close with Paul’s great contrast between the works of this flesh and the fruit of The Spirit (not something we work up, but the produce of the very presence of God within us!)! It’s all of, from, and unto God.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord?

or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him,

and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”   Romans 11:34-36

Paul also reminded the Galatian believers that it’s all about God’s work, not ours! HIS grace, mercy and the payment for our sin! (And note there is no ‘s’ in “fruit”!)

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft,

hatred, variance, emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness,

revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

 let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:19-25

All this because of Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Where are your steps leading?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

11 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Come And Worship?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, His Mercies Are New Every Morning, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If I be lifted up---, IN HIS TIME!, In Jesus name--means what?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Iron Sharpens Iron, It's All About The Cross, The Word

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

We often think following Jesus is simply easy; after all it just means “claiming” to know Him and using His name to get our own way!  What I’d like to share is the truth that Jesus Himself confronted and that is that people will follow as long as they “get it”, but when the road gets difficult, or when Jesus asks something hard of us, or when we realize that we are called to take up “our cross” and that the cross is an instrument of death to self, and life to Jesus.  Paul said it best, yet we so often make this something other than what Paul is calling us to (in reality it’s Jesus’ call to death to self and life in Him alone; and we’ll look at that also.)!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

As Jesus said, He came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly”!  That means the life of Jesus—that life which walks by The Spirit and not the flesh!  Yet we live in a culture that has removed the crucified life from Christianity!  Let’s consider what Jesus declares as truth.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.”  Luke 9:23

These statements remind us of what Jesus has called us to; but He said even more that I want us to focus on today; a passage that many overlook, for it challenges our ‘easy-believe-ism’.  Jesus call sus to commitment and devotion when we accept and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  And before we take off into this passage, I want to make a very cursory observation in regard to Jesus’ blood and His flesh; verse 63 is worthy of our consideration; and remember that “quickeneth” means to give life—go back and reconsider Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 above.

“44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day…

… 45 It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of God.

Every man therefore that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father,

cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father,

save he which is of God,

he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me

hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life…

….53 Then Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Except ye eat the flesh

of the Son of man,

and drink his blood,

ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh,

and drinketh my blood,

hath eternal life;

and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed,

and my blood is drink indeed…

…58 This is that bread which came down

from heaven:

not as your fathers did eat manna,

and are dead:

he that eateth of this bread

shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue,

as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see

the Son of man ascend up

where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.” Portions of John 6:44-63

I pray that you will read and take in this passage, and use it to assess what we are following; and are we living on Jesus’ broken body and blood or our own ways? The people who had been following Him, found these words too hard to accept.  How about you and me?  Will we hold on to the truth or give in to something else because it’s hard?  May we ponder Jesus’ words of truth and choose wisely.

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  And Jesus IS the only right answer!

Amen and Amen!!!

Melting Snow??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #441

31 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Following Jesus or the World?, Holiness, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Honor Or Dishonor?, How much goodness is enough?, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Just words won't do?, Rain from heaven., The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Light of The World

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Melting Snow???       A Word from THE WORD!!! #441

As the snows melt from the winter storms we have been having—much of the USA in fact—I thought a lot of things as I shoveled the walkways yesterday!  As I cleared the snow and ice away, there was still had a lot of snow and sleet covering my flowerbeds.  I decided to leave the snow on the beds so the moisture would seep into the ground (as we are super dry here in Oklahoma) to provide moisture for my plants.  I couldn’t help but think how God does the same thing in our lives—through His Holy Spirit and His Word!

“Be patient therefore, brethren,

unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman

waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient;

stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh.” James 5:7-8

Oh no, not the “P” word?  Patience is something we all have issues with—we live in a culture (a whole world) which wants its desires met immediately!  We have created a culture of “gim’me”, or more correctly put, give ME, now!  What I want, when I want it and in an unending continuum of provision at no cost and with no consequences.  It often seems that no one wants to work, or earn their own living, much less to be content with what they/we have.  And if I want what you have, I’m entitled to take it from you!  It makes my heart sad, as I think about how desperately we need the rain of conviction to come down from God upon our land.  I pray for the early rains and the latter rains of truth, grace, conviction unto salvation over our land.  How about you?

“Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field:

for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,

for the tree beareth her fruit,

the fig tree and the vine do yield

their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion,

and rejoice in the LORD your God:

for he hath given you

the former rain moderately, and he will cause

to come down for you the rain,

the former rain,

and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat,

and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you

the years that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm,

and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty,

and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the LORD your God,

that hath dealt wondrously with you:

and my people shall never be ashamed.”   Joel 2:22:26

Israel had suffered the discipline of God for their faithlessness, yet He promised to restore them.  How? By sending the rain that would cause the land to bring forth abundant crops.   It is sad to me that most people around us make no connection between the elements of creation and the Almighty God who created all things through The Son Jesus.  (See Colossians 1:16, and John 1:1-3.) It is so important that we recognize that all we have comes from God, especially grace!  I am so grateful for the moisture that we received this past week (even if the freezing cold was not on my list of favorite things—but it was beautiful to look at, if not so nice to try to walk through) for we need the moisture.  How about you and me?  We need the spiritual rain from heaven—the work of God in our heart, soul and mind.  I am so grateful that God’s Word is replete with hope, joy and encouragement to refresh our heart, soul and mind!  Have you stopped to thank Him for the gifts in your life?  Or are you too busy complaining about what you don’t like, to see the goodness of God rained down upon you?

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.”  James 1:16-20

Firstfruits is an interesting word here, it goes back to the offerings and feasts which God gave to Israel, and the firstfruits was a praise offering to God in the expectancy and hope in God for a prosperous harvest to come.  Paul talks about this very thing and tells us that ‘we’ who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice are the picture of the harvest to come, are to be a picture to the world of the transformed life in Jesus, the firstfruits of the resurrection.  He arose and overcame sin, death and hell, and when we are born again into Jesus, we are a picture of the that very thing as we reflect to the world the life that Jesus gives to us at salvation.  It’s what Paul calls us to in his letter to the Corinthians church and the Galatian church.

“For since by man came death,

by man came also the resurrection

of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.”  1 Corinthians 15:21-23

Paul gives us an admonition and instruction to live by Jesus’ power; it is how we need to be and do God’s will and be the reflection of our Lord; all through the watering of God’s Spirit in and on us.  As Zachariah spoke so long ago!

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,

This is the word of the LORD

unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”   Zachariah 4:6

Paul tells us all how we can do that in this passage from Galatians.  We must live by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit!  How will you live today?  By the power of Jesus’ Spirit which dwells in all who are His, or by your own wisdom?  Even as Paul said to the Colossians long ago, “Christ in you, the hope of glory…”

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

Also, Romans 12, tells us how to have spiritual success in this life with Jesus.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is

that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly, according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

So, what is Paul calling us to?  He is calling us to present ourselves to God in our daily living.  To sacrifice our will for His!  To present ourselves daily to whatever God calls us to!  We are called to not exalt ourselves (remembering that we are created by God, not ourselves!), and to live in a way that does not conform to the world around us; but to be conformed to the image of Jesus (God’s work) by yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells each genuine believer in Jesus!

And in closing let’s consider a similar message from both James and Peter.  When we fix our mind on Jesus, it will help us to walk in the Spirit of Jesus instead of ourselves!  Paul’s message to the Galatian believers helps us to direct our life choices, and humbling ourselves before God is the way!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

… 25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:10

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

I pray that we will humble ourselves before God, allowing Him to work in us, that we will be “conformed to the image of his Son”!!  All by God’s working in us through the power of HIS Spirit within us!  No Holy Spirit within?  Without the Spirit we don’t belong to Jesus!

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:9

Do you belong to Jesus?  If so, we are called to walk (live) by His Spirit’s direction in our living.  If not, you don’t belong to Jesus.  Jesus said it best in Matthew 7.

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?  

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

I pray that we will let the rain of God’s work, Spirit and truth soak into our hearts and minds that we will truly be a reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.  Get into HIS WORD and listen to HIS Spirit that you can receive the refreshing of HIS rain!  Let it soak into your heart!!

Amen and Amen!!!

But One Thing…??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #432

09 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding In Jesus, Are You Ready, Be Steadfast, Be Still and Know, Behold the Lamb of God, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, Believing God's Words, Born Again, By Him We Live, Crucified With Christ, Deceit or Discernment?, Discernment, Distractions, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, God's glory NOT mine!, He Opens Blinded Eyes to SEE, He was born to die for our sin, Hear ye HIM!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Listening To God

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

But One Thing…????  A Word from THE WORD!!! #432

As we continue into this new year, I’d like us to check our perspective; I want to be in tune with Jesus and His Word.  That is such a difficult thing to do consistently, but it is doable, yet I think we often miss the target because we are so easily distracted by this world.  Jesus confronted a young man in his ministry.

“And Jesus said unto him,

Why callest thou me good?

there is none good but one,

that is, God.

19 Thou knowest the commandments,

Do not commit adultery,

Do not kill,

Do not steal,

Do not bear false witness,

Defraud not,

Honour thy father and mother.

20 And he answered and said unto him,

Master, all these have I observed

from my youth.

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him,

and said unto him,

One thing thou lackest:

go thy way,

sell whatsoever thou hast,

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure

in heaven:

and come,

take up the cross,

and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying,

and went away grieved:

for he had great possessions.”  Mark 10:18-22

Here a seeking young man wasn’t able to comprehend the truth (at least at this time…we don’t know about his future, and some think a young man who later came to Jesus…), and I think this is a story from which we can learn a lot; but we must realize that “One thing thou lackest…”. What are you and I lacking?  Faith? Trust? Obedience? Prioritizing Jesus, His Word and His direction for our lives?  It is so easy to forget that following Jesus is what He has called those who believe to do—taking up my cross doesn’t mean just living with the aches and pains of life—it means dying to self and living for, with and unto Jesus each day.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Paul told the Colossians believers what it meant to belong to Jesus, and it’s one of my favorite, and most concise definitions of our relationship to Jesus—in redemption and forgiveness of sins!!!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

And as Paul spoke to the Galatians, we must consider ourselves as dead to self and alive to Christ Jesus!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

And in all simplicity, how do you have a relationship with Jesus?  Only one way; by being born again into God’s kingdom through the blood of The Son of God, Jesus Christ The Lord.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God…

… 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…

…. 16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”                     John 3:3-5, 16-19

What do you lack?  Are you ready to follow Jesus?  Here are His demands.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself, and

take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

I pray that if you already belong to Jesus, you will join me in a renewed commitment to draw nearer to Jesus and follow Him more closely and undistractedly!  If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you will call on Him today in repentance of your sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and yours!  His arms are waiting for you!

Amen and Amen!!!

Whose Sheep Are You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #217

05 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, By His Grace, Changed Lives, Salvation, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, The Good Shepherd, The Gospel, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Whose Sheep Are You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #217

I want to share some passages from The Gospel of John, and consider what Jesus was and is telling us.  Scripture is replete with the picture of “shepherds and sheep” from one of the most familiar, Psalm 23, to the message from Jesus Himself in John 10.  Let’s rehearse the passages below and see what conclusions we can take away.

Jesus was often in conflict with the religious leaders of His day, and sometimes it seems that we have come full circle to a day when people, even professing Christians, would rather stand on the opinions of men rather than The Word of God.  What are you standing on?  Let’s see what Jesus has to say.

“This parable spake Jesus unto them:

but they understood not what things they were

which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

 and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…

…. 14 I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life

for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have,

which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,

and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received

of my Father.”  Portions of John 10:6-18

Do you see the flow?  Jesus came to not only be the “good shepherd”, but He came to be “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world…”, as John the Baptizer proclaimed.  Jesus would die as “the lamb” but remain the “good shepherd”—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin; and in verses 17 and 18, Jesus makes it clear that He willingly laid down His life, knowing that HE had the “power to take it again”!  All because He was obeying what, “I received of my Father”.  God’s plan, as Peter proclaimed at Pentecost:

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

 in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”   Acts 2:22-24

Jesus is the one way to God:

“This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

Jesus is the way—the only way—to God; and as Jesus goes on to say in John chapter 10, it’s our choice whether we will believe what He says, believe what He did for us and trust to His death on the cross for our salvation, finding the forgiveness and transformation His blood supplies.  It’s your choice, but remember each choice has a consequence.  If you receive Jesus’ work of salvation accomplished at Calvary and verified in His resurrection from the dead, repenting of your sin, and trusting to His saving grace, you will find not only grace, but power, and the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, via The Word of God!  Dig in!

“Jesus answered them,

I told you,

and ye believed not:

the works that I do in my Father’s name,

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

 and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:25-30

“31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.”

The leaders then wanted to kill Him, and many today feel the same way.  It’s your choice—believe or reject His voice which is calling you. (See Rev. 3:20.) If you hear His voice, will you respond today?  If you are His sheep, will you obey, and dig into His Word to know what obedience looks life?  Paul said it best:

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!