Hello everyone!
I must say that since the "Beast from the East" and "Storm Emma" collided here in Oldham, they certainly have got along pretty well and show no signs of abating (even if I am writing this on Thursday!).
I've been enjoying blogging so much lately, that, as you can tell, I have stepped it up a notch so that all the content comes flooding out onto these pages... well, I was going to say "these pages", but that can't be correct given that it's on a screen!
As the wind howls whilst I write this, let me see if I can give you all some encouragement for your cold and snowy Friday...
Further From, or Closer To?
In John chapter 10, Jesus is telling the people that keep trying to challenge His authority that nobody but Him is the way to the Father: -
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.
Quite a damning indictment isn't it? Jesus is saying that anybody who tries to steal sheep, or lost souls, from the Kingdom of God is akin to a bandit. So let's combine that with what we discussed recently over two parts about what the finished work of Christ actually means for us. We can quite clearly see that anything that takes our eyes from our Shepherd is indeed a thief.
Be it a person or a thing, whatever this thing actually is can distract our focus so much that we start to perceive our Saviour's voice less than we used to.
Let's dig a little deeper now.
An Open Door That Nobody Can Shut
Jesus' own words in John chapter ten are His attempts to describe Himself as the door protecting us from outside influences (as well as being the only way to the Father) and a familiar voice to us once He has come inside and made His home in our heart, minds and lives.
I once heard a preacher say that Jesus is quite controlling in that, once you invite Him in He will take over everything. He will do. Yet He won't force us to let Him into our situations.
He will wait.
Patiently.
With long-suffering patience the likes of which I wish I had!
Are you ready for a paradox?
Whilst He won't force His will upon us, it is His will that is the ultimate authority in life, death and beyond. Whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not, we are still under His authority even when we are disobeying Him.
Surely that can't be right though?
How can we be under the authority of the One we are disobeying?
I'll ask you a question in response; if we weren't under His authority, would we be alive today? You might argue that we would because it is not God that gives us the air we breathe. To which, I will say "well whose oxygen is it then?".
I'm not doing that to trap you in any way, shape or form. I am simply pointing out that nothing that happens to us escapes His authority in the end.
By not acknowledging the fact that we are still alive today, still breathing today, we are failing to acknowledge that He is sustaining us even in the midst of our struggles.
It reminds me of a song I listened to quite some time ago: -
You can't bargain with the truth. 'Cause whether you're right or you're wrong. We're gonna know what you've done. We're going to see where you belong - in the end.
What I'm trying to identify here is whose voice are you following? The voice of comparison from social media? The voice of addiction? The voice of bitterness?
For people often follow the sound of the voice that is most comfortable to them.
You only have to take a look at how a very young child behaves when they see one or both of their parents to see this in action.
By the time we get to verse seven of John 10 we can clearly see Jesus spelling it out: -
Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."
Would you rather pass through a door that leads to fame and fortune? Or would you rather pass through One that knows your best interests better than you even do?
A lot of people would rather say the first one because it's reward is seeking instant gratification, rather than sustained gratification.
In Luke 12, Jesus is busy teaching the value, in God's eyes, of His creation so that would mean two things: -
- That the Heavenly Father knows us; and
- The Heavenly Father knows what we need
So if we are following His voice hopefully we can begin to recognise that God, being in ultimate control, knows exactly what we need before we will ever need it.
If you need any further proof of this then just look at the fact you are alive today. Look at the fact that you are reading this (or are having it read aloud to you). Take note of the fact that God must surely be interested in your wellbeing if He has sustained you this far.
Do you see why I make it clear that it is the precise moment that your focus shifts that is the problem? We have a tendency to keep taking our eyes off Jesus and the finished work of the cross.
Why?
Sometimes we think that we know better and sometimes, it's just blinded, selfish pride that convinces us that we really do know best, when we don't. For if we did, we would have found our own way out of the trouble we are in today, wouldn't we?
Does trouble avoid you today?
Your answer is "no", isn't it?
If your answer was "yes", then beware because it's likely to come through the doorway of pride. It likes to think "I am in control" when we are not!
Just take a look at Psalm 24: -
The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Final Thought
If my point is becoming clear to you then I have done my job today because all I am trying to do is to help you to perceive what is right in front of you; the sound of your Saviour's voice calling out to you today.
If you are not a believer today, then why not think about asking God to come in and take control of your situation because you've tried other options.
You've tried drink. You've tried drugs. You might even have tried sex to solve your problem.
Turn to God. He knows you better than you know yourself. Trust Him, not me.
I'm just a humble, single, blogger trying to navigate his way through life in the best possible way that he can by acknowledging the influence of the One who made him.
Beware though because if you ask God in today to take control... He will do just that!
Peace!
===TLP===
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