Good Morning All,
John
10:14, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”
Jesus as the shepherd and we are the flock;
this image has been used so often that it is almost quaint. Maybe you remember the song “I just want to
be a sheep baa baa” or maybe the hymn “I am Jesus’ Little Lamb.” This happens when we lose touch with the
basic story or theme. Most of us have
very little, if any, contact with sheep anymore. We don’t understand the dynamics or the
truths of a flock of sheep. Mostly, all
we have is vague memories at best but what we usually rely on is what a book or
a movie told us.
The
beauty of using the flock for us as the church is that it addresses our most
basic needs and wants. When the flock is
gathered together, and the shepherd is intently watching over it; there is
safety and serenity. The flock is calm;
quietly eating the grass, drinking the still water, lying down in the green
pastures content, resting in the bounty that the shepherd provides. The sheep listen to the soothing voice of the
shepherd, trusting it to guide them and to protect them.
The
holy Church is the same way. We, as
believers, live within this community.
It is in this community that we are safe; we are nourished by the sacraments,
and we hear the soothing and calming voice of the Savior speaking his words of
forgiveness and reconciliation. All this
provides us with the comforting Gospel which allows us to rest in the bounty of
God’s abundant grace. This encompasses
all our needs; everything we need is found in the flock.
The
wonderful thing is that the Holy Spirit continues the unceasing work of
calling, guarding, protecting, and feeding the sheep of the flock until Jesus
returns. We are the unique community
which is in the world but not of the world.
Our focus is always on the return of Christ; we look forward to it we
long for it as in “thy kingdom come.”
While the world worries about today and fears tomorrow, we look with
eager anticipation to the promised return of Jesus in triumph when the final
enemy, death, is totally consumed.
We
hold onto this promise by faith, a faith that desires forgiveness; that craves
the words of hope which our Savior speaks to us. We long to trust in the promise of salvation
and eternal life. With that faith we can
boldly go out and preach this gospel to everyone we meet. We can bring consolation to the dying,
comfort to the hurt, hope to those who have none. God is our refuge; he is our hope; he is our
shepherd protecting us and calling us by name, by our individual name, to hear
the good news of our salvation. In him
do we hope, in him we trust.
This
is why we encourage everyone to join together with their local congregation and
worship together. It is in the church
that we hear God’s message of forgiveness, and we receive the nourishment of
his body and blood. We don’t gather
because we are trying to impress God; we gather for the renewing and
rejuvenating of our soul. Join the flock
and celebrate the Lord’s gift to you.
Gracious Lord, you call us by name and gather
your children into your protective flock.
Guard us from all harm and lead us down the path of salvation which you
have prepared for us. In your holy
precious name we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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