The Good Shepherd Unites His Sheep (John 10:16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/4/2016 9:43 AM

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  The Good Shepherd Unites His Sheep

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference: John 10:16

            Message of the verses:  “16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

            In an earlier SD we spoke about the sheepfold, and that the first sheepfold that Jesus was referring to was the nation of Israel, the children of Abraham, and now in verse sixteen He mentions that He has other sheep who are not in this fold, that is the fold of the children of Israel, but are in the fold of the Gentiles, and that means all who are not Jewish.  Jesus is talking about the salvation of Gentiles, and all who are Gentile should say a hardy AMEN to that. 

            This was prophesied in the Old Testament “"I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations (Isa. 42:6).”  “6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth’ (Isa. 49:6).”  Let us look at a Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  We are now living in the Church age and so whenever a Jewish person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord they will become a part of the Church, and this is what was prophesied to happen.  MacArthur writes “To suggest that Jews and Gentiles would be united in one flock was a revolutionary concept.  The Jews despised Gentiles, and they returned the animosity.  Even Jewish believers were so programmed to prejudice that they were slow to accept Gentiles as equal members in the church (cf. Acts 10:9-16, 28; 11:1-18; 15:1-29).  But as Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied, ‘It is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’  Now he did not say this on his own imitative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.’ (John 11:50-52).”

            Here is another important part of Scripture that goes along with these thoughts:  Ephesians 2:11-16 “11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands- 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

    “14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”

            MacArthur concludes “True unity between Jews and Gentiles defines the church because both are sheep who belong to the same Shepherd.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In keeping with the theme of preparing myself for partaking of the Lord’s Supper I want to quote a song that is a song of thanksgiving to the Lord for bringing me to Himself and making me one of His sheep.  “I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
My Steps of Faith for Today:  Be thankful that I am a part of the family of God.

Memory verses for the week:  (Romans 6:5-6) “5. For if we have been become united with Him in the likeness of His death; certainly we shall be in the likeness of His resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we no longer be slaves to sin;”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Galilee” (Mark 28:6-7).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who did Paul find in Lystra?”

Answer in our next SD.

8/4/2016 10:16 AM