October 22, 2006
Scripture:
I wonder if we can go back to John 10; v. 11, which we have already read, says, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” We were singing about this is hymn 5 “unto Him who loved us—gave us”; we read about it in Galatians 2: “the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” What wondrous love! The Lord came and likened Himself to a shepherd, because, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” In order to be able to bring all the sheep, whether from Israel or not, into one flock, He had to give His life—what is more precious that that? He gave Himself. The interesting thing is that v. 11 is nestled in between two verses that contrast it. In v. 10, we have the thief, who comes to steal and kill. In v. 12, there is the hireling, who flees and allows the sheep to get caught. How precious to be in the flock of the Good Shepherd. The thief is outside, and he comes in to take life. The hireling is inside, but he is unfaithful and only wants to save his own life. This makes v. 11 stand out. The Lord did not come to wreak havoc or condemn; He came to sacrifice His life. He did not call 12 legions of angels to save Him, but went to Calvary and gave His life. We are now brought into a special position: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand,” (v. 28). Oh, how grateful we should be for the love that put His Father’s will first, the love that put our blessing before His own safety, that love that was stronger than death and could bear the burden of sin. So He took our place to give us His. How precious is our Lord, our Saviour, the One who gave Himself for us!
EG Hymn 293 – A little ship was on the Sea, Prayer • Today I want to look at a story from the life of the Lord Jesus; you might be able to guess it from the hymn we sung. Matthew 8:23–27 Mark 4:35–41 • The first thing we can see in these verses is that the disciples were following the Lord (Matthew 8:23). Disciple means follower, or student. We should be disciples of the Lord, following Him and His word. The Lord got into a boat with the disciples and they started out across the Sea of Galilee. As they sailed along, a storm blew up. Now when Jonah was sailing to Tarshish, God sent a storm because he was disobeying. But the disciples were following the Lord; they were where God wanted them to be. Why was there a storm? Sometimes as we go through life, God sends storms to test us. So as the storm continued, the waves began to come over the side and fill the boat; it started to sink. The disciples went to the Lord, who was sleeping in the back of the boat, and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us.” Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid?” The disciples needed faith, but they knew where to turn in times of trouble. There is a story about a little girl who lost her pouch of money in a store. She and her family looked up and down every aisle, but they couldn’t find it. Finally they stopped and prayed that the Lord would help them find it. As soon as they finished praying, the girl looked up and saw her money sitting on the shelf. The Lord answered the disciples’ prayer, too. And the sea was calmed. Read Psalm 107:6 & 7. The Lord likes to hear us call to Him for help when we are in trouble.
Hebrews 11:32–40 • We have the continuation of the portion where names have been left out, starting at v. 32; from there on it is a list on events. We can’t necessarily trace each of them, but no doubt they all happened. Definitely faith was required for each. We saw from v. 33 how battles had been won through faith. While looking at the story we have had of the Lord and His disciples, you can’t help but ask the question: why was there a storm? The thing is, that is one of the characteristics about being a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it is then or now: you need faith. Did the disciples have faith? The Lord often said, “Oh, ye of little faith …” God sometimes sends storms to strengthen our faith. Some have criticized the disciples and said, “Can the boat sink when the Lord’s in it?” Yet if we have the Lord in our lives, can we sink? We see those who subdued kingdoms, but there are those in the list who died—which takes more faith? Why do people go to a gym? It’s to strengthen their muscles. God exercises our faith to strengthen it; after all these examples, we will get to chapter 12 and find we must run the race ourselves. When you read v. 34, it really brings out the endurance. If there is one thing Satan does, it is to try to wear us out, to tire us out. In David’s mighty men we can see much endurance. One fought until his sword clave to hand; another defended a patch of lentils single- handedly—such endurance these men had. In v. 34, the first phrase reminds us of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast into the furnace, but not burnt. Yet not everyone who was cast into a fire was saved. Many of them did die, but the words they said and the hymns they sung are a testimony to their faith. They could have recanted and accepted deliverance (v. 35); if they had joined the ranks of the Roman Catholics, they would have been delivered—from the tortures. But they had made a decision to be faithful, and they endured. As they look at the ashes, some might say that they lost; but we can’t see the end of the story: “that they might obtain a better resurrection,” (v. 35). We can see how faith plays out here—sometimes they come out of the fire, to the glory of God, but sometimes they are consumed. Other, too, were chained in dungeons for many years, (v. 36). Which ones are better off, we don’t know, but what we cannot discount is God’s special intervention. V.37—Stephen was stoned; there is no one mentioned in the Bible who was sawn asunder. Then there were those who were not tortured or killed; but they were rejected (vv. 37b & 38). Yet the world was not worthy of these people. So in v. 39 we have a summary of all these people we have seen: All of them received a good report. Yet none of them received the promise. If it was to Israel, they were promised a land, but they have not yet entered it. For us, we have a portion for the future; and God will not disappoint faith. V. 40 speaks of heaven, our promise—what a day that will be! Read Luke 17:5 & 6. “Lord, increase our faith”: may this be our prayer. EG Hymn 140 – Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,