August 5, 2012
Scripture:
Scripture:
We have had Ephesians 1:4 brought before us. What an amazing verse! Just think of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, that would go to the cross for us! But here we also find out that before the world began, certain ones were chosen to be in Christ. He knew men would sin and that sin would keep them from heaven. So He came and died for all the chosen ones. “But wait a minute,” you say, “I wasn’t even born then!” God knows all things. He knew you would be born when Jesus chose His bride. He knew the Children of Israel couldn’t follow the law and He knew that His bride would mainly come from the Gentiles. When the world began, it was the beginning of His eternal purpose. We find that Jesus came as a babe, and died to show His love to the Father and the elect. Can we realize how precious this is? How precious it is to realize that we are before Him in love! Indeed, “God is love” and “We love Him because He first loved us.” We should think on these things; and demonstrate them in our lives. May this help us go on in the joy of Himself!
Hymn 329 - A little lamb went straying
Prayer
Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He referred to Himself as several things. Last time, we read, “I am the door.” Today, we will look at some passages where Jesus calls Himself a shepherd.
John 10:11
There are many shepherds in the Bible: Abel, Moses, and David, among others. A shepherd takes care of sheep. I believe all of these men were good shepherds, but the Lord called Himself the Good Shepherd. Jesus said that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. David risked his life for his sheep when he went after a lion, but Jesus didn’t just risk His life for us: He died.
In our hymn, the lamb strayed from the flock and was unable to find his way home. Sheep don’t have a good memory, like a dog does. Sheep are followers rather than leaders. I once heard a story about a shepherd that was taking his flock of sheep through a covered bridge. Part way through the bridge there was a shaft of light streaming through a hole and shining on the floor of the bridge. When the first sheep came to the shaft of light, he jumped over it. All of the rest of the sheep did the same. It’s all right to be a follower, but only if you aren’t following in wrongdoing. In Isaiah, it says that, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way” (ch. 53: 6).
Hebrews 13:20
The difference with the Good Shepherd and the Great Shepherd is that the Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep while on the other hand the Great Shepherd rose from the dead again.
John 10: 27 - 29
In our hymn it says that the Shepherd called the lamb by name. Our Shepherd knows each of us by name as well. Each of those that are His sheep has eternal life and will never perish. We are safe because we are in the Father’s hand as well!
Luke 14:12-35
Last week we had a lesson in humility: we are to take the low place, and it is possible that we’ll be exalted. It becomes us to take the low place; also, it’s what our Lord did.
Jesus was talking to the guests at this meal but then He turned to the host with a few words of instruction. He told the host that if he only invited guests who could invite him back, then he had the wrong motive. What should be our motive but seeking to serve the Lord? The rich (in the parable that follows) were self-centered, but the blind, the halt, and the poor weren’t. The poor couldn’t invite you back. That’s where grace comes in. Grace benefits those who can’t recompense it. We are blessed if we learn this lesson; and we will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just, the Judgement Seat of Christ.
One guest spoke up and said, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” (v.15). Jesus, however, thought, “Yes, but who is willing to eat in the kingdom of God? Many have been invited, and there are many seats, but there are also many excuses.” Our Lord then proceeded to tell the story of a certain man who made a great supper, which is a great gospel message. The gospel is a great supper. Just as supper is the last meal of the day, the Gospel of Grace is God’s last offer to man. Why is it great? It’s great because it cost so much; it’s great because the work is perfect, and it perfects us; it’s great because it’s such a buffet of goodies: eternal life, justification, sanctification, forgiveness, and no condemnation. Truly it’s a great feast.
Many were bid to this great feast. In the parable this refers to the Jews, but it also reminds us that the gospel message is for “whosoever”. Look at the phrase “Come; for all things are now ready” in verse 17. “Come” shows us that it’s an invitation of welcome from a God with open arms. “All things” tells us that there is nothing left to be done. That was new to the Jews, because they thought they had everything. They didn’t have what they needed, though: the supper of grace. “Now” means the present. That’s all we have. The past is gone and the future isn’t ours. “Now is the day of salvation”, and it’s important to emphasize that. It’s like the tract “Ready Now”. God is ready, are you?
Who will accept the bounty of this supper? Those invited began to make excuses when called, and what a lame list of excuses it is! The first man said, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.” Usually you look at land before you buy it. The next man said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” Again, if you’ve already bought them; why haven’t you tested them? Couldn’t you put that off until you’ve done what’s most important? Finally, the third man said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” Why did you marry her if she’s that big a hindrance? Bring her along! Satan still has people using excuses today; excuses why they won’t come to the Saviour.
Since the invited guests won’t come, this man sends his servant into the streets and lanes to bring in guests. If the originally-invited guests were the scribes and Pharisees, then the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind were the publicans and sinners: all Jews. The servant fetching them is the Holy Spirit. They are brought in, but “Yet there is room” (v.22). What a marvelous thing to be able to say!
Verse 23 brings out a yet different aspect in this parable. The servant is not to “bring” in the people from the highways and hedges; rather he is to “compel” them to come in. These are the Gentiles - us - and this Man wants them to fill His house. All the chosen will be there. In the beginning, God specially placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Now, God doesn’t leave us outside in the garden, He calls us into His house.
The Holy Spirit really does compel people to come to the God’s Supper of Grace. The Lord’s love, grace, and all that He has done surely compel us to come to Him.
Hymn 121 - All things are ready, come
Prayer