Knock and the door shall be opened

Scripture says if we ask, we shall receive, if we knock doors shall be opened. Yet often, it seems doors are closed. But we must be careful about perception. It is easy to have an attitude of defeat and view doors as closed simply because they do not adhere to our vision of open. But one must remember, God's ways are not the same as the ways of man.

Take for example, a revolving door. It might appear closed, but it is merely waiting to be stepped into.

That reminds me of how the Lord parted the Jordan--but not until the priests first stepped into the waters--trusting Him. I suppose if they had stood on the shores and insisted, He might have still parted the waters rather than making them get their feet wet. But that would have been disobedience to what He commanded. It wasnt fear that made them obey--it was faith and love.

I encourage you today to seek that you might find, knock that the door might be opened. God is faithful. We too must be faithful to step out in obedience and trust Him.

Barabbas--and you

Imagine being a prisoner, arrested and imprisoned for a crime you knew you had committed. Tried and condemned. You are guilty. And you await death. You hear the footsteps of the guards approaching.

But suddenly... you are set free. How do you explain it? You are told that there is a man who would die in your place. Can you imagine it?

What must Barabbas have been thinking at the moment this very thing happened to him?
John 18:39-40 -- But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.

Now Barabbas was a robber. Jesus had been arrested, but the officials found nothing to hold him on. It was their custom each year at this time to release one prisoner. Pilate would gladly release Jesus. For He had committed no crime.

Luke 23:13-19 -- And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Jesus was accused of claiming to be a king. Accused of the claim that he was the Son of God. The people claimed that was a threat to the government. The only charge they would have on Jesus isinsurrection. And he was not guilty. He had done nothing wrong.

Luke 23:23-25 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Now I want you to look at some things about Barabbas.. the man released in Jesus place. What was the charge against him?

A form of insurrection.They both had the same charge. But there is a difference. Barabbas was guilty but set free. Jesus was innocent but condemned.

Do you know what Barabbas means? Bar means "son of". Abbas means Daddy.Jesus was accused of claiming to be the Son of God, the one true Father... our Daddy.

See the similarities here? Barabbas is freed.. Jesus is condemned. Barabbas is guilty.. Jesus is innocentBarabbas has the name.. but Jesus IS

Now, look for a moment at your own life. When Jesus was crucified, Barabbas was set free. but Jesus didn't only die for Barabbas.He died for you...so that you could be free.

What things in our lives are we guilty of? Yet we escape the death we deserve by the atonement offered by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross that day. Isn't it an awesome thing to know that we have a God who loves us so much?

We have life because He died in our place. As He hung upon that cross, the worst way to die, He did it for you. Because He loves you so much.

You are that prisoner.. Receiving the news that you will be set free. What is your reaction?

As Christ loved

John 13:34-35 says "A new commandment I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
How do we define love? Had Jesus simply said "Love one another", we might suppose we could use our own definition of love. But He was very clear on His meaning. We are to love "as He loved". How did Jesus love?

First, Christ loved unconditionally. He accepted people as they were, no strings attatched. There was no if-then clause in His ministry. His love was offered freely to all who would choose to receive it. Mark 1:32-34 describes how Jesus met the needs in peoples lives, healing the sick and driving out demons. "That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who He was." Jesus loved these people and met their needs, not for His own gain, but out of compassion."

Second, Christ loved uncondemningly. In John chapter 8, a woman is brought before Him and accused of adultery. "The teachers of the law and the pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?" Rather than judge her, Jesus addressed the crowd (verse 7) "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone."

Third, Christ loved unselfishly. Many times we see where Jesus stopped what He was doing to meet the needs of others. He often put Himself last, taking on the role of a servant. At His final meal with His disciples, Jesus took on the role of a servant and washed His disciples feet. John 13:4-5 "So, he got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet." Christ's love portrayed the ultimate sacrifice in that He died on the cross so that the gap sin created between us and God could be bridged, and we might have eternal life through a relationship with Him--something more wonderful than all this world could ever offer.

The extent of Christ's love is difficult to grasp. The depth, the power, the hope in it. Yet, we are fully expected to live our lives in such a way that that love is reflected through us apon others. When you look at people, do you see what God sees without judgement? Do you have compassion? Do you feel people's pain? Would you stop everything to meet the need in another's life? Would you die for the sake of another? Don't we often make excuses that we are too busy, or that our needs matter more. Are we often unwilling to share Christ with others because of the cost? Are we loving as Christ loved? Or are we loving on our own terms?

Examine your own life, and ask yourself these questions. Ask the Lord to show you how you can fulfill this command in your day to day life to bring Him honor and glory. For this is how the world will know that we are His disciples, by the way we love one another.

Won't you show your love for the Somali people today by lifting them up in prayer and seeking the Lord's will in how you might serve a lost and dying nation?

Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

In order to fully understand this passage, we must understand the background behind its writing. The shepherd was a common metaphor in the ancient Near East, as many kings compared themselves to a shepherd in their leadership capacity. The prophecy of the coming Messiah incorporated the same. And Jesus identified Himself as "the Good Shepherd" (John 10:14) He was also called the "Great Shepherd" (Hebrews 13:20) and "the Chief Shepherd"

The author was David, the shepherd boy who had grown up to become king. The shepherd metaphor was a natural one to him, for it had been his way of life. Here, he was in his mature years. He had suffered deeply and had tasted the bitter cup of dispair. He had walked difficult paths and felt heart rendering hurt. But he had also received the Lord's comfort and had felt the ever-present touch of the Shepherd's hand. Can you relate? Perhaps you had a need and no one seemed to care. But God does care!

David did not speak theoretically or generally. He personally knew the Shepherd. He makes it clear that he is speaking from experience, and in every situation, God faithfully cared for his needs. "The Lord is my shepherd" Here ,the meaning of the word shepherd is "friend, companion, and guide". Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd knows each individual sheep. "The Sheep hear His voice and He calleth His own sheep by name" (John 10:3)[21:36]

Psalm 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
In todays society, we have a lot of wants. Satisfying ourselves has become one of the highest virtues. What kind of things do we want? We want nourishment. "I shall not want" implies that we will never be in hunger. Only those who know Jesus Christ through personal salvation can make such a claim. Without Him, we cried " I shall perish with spiritual hunger. Our Lord delights to provide for all of our needs. "He who cometh to me shall never hunger and he who believeth on me shall never thist" (John 6:35)

We want rest "He maketh me lie down in green pastures" is a picture of the shepherd leading His flock to a beautiful meadow with lush green grass. In a cool shady spot, He beckons them to lie down and rest. For our bodies to function effectively, we must have rest. Due to the influence of sin, our souls become restless. When we come to Christ by faith, He gives us rest. "Take my yoke apon you and lean on me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29) Study the Bible and walk with Him by faith and you will discover deeper rest of surrender and obedience.

We want refreshment. "He leadeth me beside the still waters" is an emblem of all that refreshes. "Still waters" refers to deep, pure, and sweet water, not some stagnant pool that is repulsive to sight and taste. Those who drink from the stagnant pool will continue to thirst. But Jesus said "whoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give to him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life"

We want renewal. David pulled aside the curtain and revealed the darkest hour when he said "He restoreth my soul" David had committed deep sin and may have wondered at one point how he could ever be used by the Lord again. But he received the joy of restoration through confession of sin and God's gracious forgiveness. During our times of despair, we need the touch of His holy hand to restore joy in our hearts. Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
We think of the Christian life as a journey, a pilgrimage. The journey is much more difficult than first expected. By depending on our limited wisdom, we lose our way and the foreboding future shatters our confidence. He leadeth me" means to guide and direct carefully according to a definite plan. David teaches us that life is not spent entirely in rest, soft living, and sheltered moments. Just as the shepherd led David, He shows us the paths to follow and guides us each step of the way. He guides in the path of righteousness.

The Christian walk involves forsaking sin and keeping our eyes fixed upon Him. We walk in faith and in love and therefore our walk should be consistent. When we depend on His wisdom and not our own, He makes our path plain. He guides through difficult places. On both sides of the path are perilous places for sheep and they never seem to learn to avoid them. Fear, panic, and even death may be present on the journey. David remembered such journeys and was keenly aware of sheep straying. We, too must trust the Lord's guidance and and allow Him to guide us in the paths of righteousness "for His name's sake".

Psalm 23:4 -- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Sometimes we must walk through the valley. The words do not necessarily refer to death, though death may come in the valley. Picture a shepherd leading his sheep through narrow, dark gorges where there are unknown obstacles and terrors. It is a valley of deep gloom through which they must pass. David is describing the time of testing in his life–a time when the testing was so severe that it threatened his life.

How can we endure life's threatening trials? The Good Shepherd walks through the valley with us and provides for our needs. "I will fear no evil" We need not worry or have any doubt. "For thou art with me. He has never left us. A shepherd protects his sheep, and certainly our Shepherd protects us. His "rod and staff" give comfort.

Lets look at what a rod and staff were to a shepherd during David's time. The rod was used for defense against wild beast and sometimes even robbers. The staff was for drawing the sheep out of crevices and other places of danger. Imagine for a second yourself in the place of the sheep. What does the shepherd's rod and staff mean to you? For the sheep, these two instruments meant defense, guidance, and safety. Think for a minute about how He has protected you from dangers and has safely drawn you out of the crevices along the paths of life.
Where have you been? Where are You right now on that path with the Shepherd?

Psalm 23:5-6 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

With the words "Thou preparest a table before me in the presense of mine enemies," David describes himself at the banquet table as a guest of the Divine Host. Having his head annointed with oil symbolizes a hearty welcome, and the expression "my cup runneth over" refers to an abundant supply. His is more than the Shepherd's sheep. He is God's guest. The picture has become more realistic and nearer to human understanding. There is not fellowship and communication between the shepherd and the sheep such as is possible between host and guest, the Creator and those created in His image. The Oriental host was obliged to protect his guest. The Heavenly Host carries out the same rigid procedure of protection David describes in the shepherd psalm. Our Lord took up the same idea, and compared the Christian life to full enjoyment at a divenely set table.
Luke 14:15 -- And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

And God's goodness endures beyond the grave. When the rough way is over, as children of God, we will enter into the heavenly dwelling place and receive eternal rest. Jesus called it "my Father's house" a dwelling place of joy, prepared for those who put their faith in Him. It is a comforting thought to know that "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"

Now I want to bring to focus a different aspect of the shepherd/sheep story. I have thus far related this psalm to God's care for us. But we can further apply it to our lives in observing the qualities of the Shepherd and imitating Him. In John 21:15-17 Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep. He is asking Peter to care for the sheep of the flock in the same way that He Himself has cared for them. To walk with them. To direct them to the still waters He desires that they drink from. To show them His green pastures.

John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He is asking Peter to care for the sheep of the flock in the same way that He Himself has cared for them. To walk with them. To direct them to the still waters He desires that they drink from. To show them His green pastures.

Lets look back at those shepherd qualities now, and apply them not just as in how God relates to us, but in our relationships with others. Do you love His sheep the way He loves them? Do you try to help them along the shepherds path rather than watching them wander astray? In what ways can we "feed His sheep" ?

Consider the nation of Somalia. Consider them as God's sheep being led astray. Won't you intervene to show them the same love and care He has for them? Won't you help feed His sheep?

Tuki (prayer)

"Keep in touch."

It was a short phrase, but full of so much meaning. Spoken to a new friend who would soon be traveling. There was no specification as to how often, but simply that communication should be ongoing. It is communication that holds friendships together and deepens the bond. The closer a friendship, the more often communication typically takes place.

The Bible tells us we are to pray without ceasing. (1 Thes. 5:17) We can debate exactly what is meant by "without ceasing", but surely we cannot deny that the command here is to be in continual communication with the Lord that our relationship with Him might be strengthened.

Keeping in touch with Jesus is not a matter of now and then. He has given us His Holy Spirit. He never leaves us. There are no barriers between us and Him. It is the kind of relationship where conversation is expected to be continual. It is to be depended upon.