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Posts from the ‘Scriptures’ Category

Apr 27

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John 10:10 Another View

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.

My sheep hear My voiceThis morning as I had devotions with my coffee, I chose The Passion Translation and felt led to read John 10. In this translation, in the first verse, Brian Simmons adds the phase Jesus said to the Pharisees, and then continues, “Listen to this eternal truth: The person who sneaks over the wall to enter into the sheep pen, rather than coming through the gate, reveals himself as a thief coming to steal. 2 But the true Shepherd walks right up to the gate, and because the gatekeeper knows who he is, he opens the gate to let him in.”

I have often quoted John 10:10 to refer to our enemy, satan and his evil cohorts. His M-O is always to steal, kill, and destroy. But today as I read through this story, I had a different take on it.

I went back to John 9 where Jesus healed a man born blind. Jesus spat on the ground, made clay, and placed it on his eyes and then told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The people of his neighborhood were astonished, but they marched him over to the Pharisees because Jesus had done this miracle on the Sabbath, a day Jews weren’t supposed to work. The healed man was brought before the Pharisees for questioning, and they grilled him even to the point they brought in his parents. The Pharisees called Jesus a sinful man and wanted him to agree. We all know his response, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!” [Jn 9:25]

At the end of John 9 we see that they threw this man out of the Synagogue. Jesus learned of it and went to find him. In their conversation, Jesus revealed that He was the Son of God. Jesus further said, “I have come to judge those who think they see and make them blind. And for those who are blind, I have come to make them see.” [Jn 9:39] Well, the Pharisees standing nearby heard this and Chapter 10’s parable of the Good Shepherd was told to them.

MY THOUGHTS

I believe the thief Jesus refers to in John 10 is actually the work of the enemy on the religious leaders: Sadducees and Pharisees, also known as “hired hands”.

11“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. [John 10:11-13]

I believe the hired hand represents those in charge of the flock—in His day, the rabbis, and in our days, religious leaders who don’t know the voice of their Shepherd. The wolf is actually the devil, who wants to destroy the sheep.

FROM RESURRECTION TO COMPLETION
That we may be one

Jesus then explains Who He is and His purpose.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” [John 10:14-18]

APPLICATION

Today’s culture is so divided. Yes, the “thief” has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but the “hired hands” haven’t done a very good job at keeping the sheep safe and together. The “flock” is without identity and purpose, and thus they are easy prey for every wind and doctrine as well as an easy target for the thief. Perhaps we really don’t know the voice of our Good Shepherd. If we did, wouldn’t we want to be “one” with Him and with one another?

22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. [John 17:22,23]

So what can I do about it?
I can pray. I can share with friends. I can encourage others. I can be a witness for Jesus Christ. I can tell my testimony. I can be a pebble in a pond and just see how many ripples I can generate. I can write.

I haven’t written on this Handmaiden site since August 31, 2020. I lost my courage, confidence, or whatever you might call it. Several friends have encouraged me to write again. Last week I clearly heard the Lord say, “Stick it to him. WRITE!” Since that day, I’ve written down some thoughts, done a bit of research, but always could find something else to do with my time. But today, when I read these chapters in John, I knew that today was my day.

The enemy might have stolen my confidence, killed my passion, and destroyed my vision as he whispered “It doesn’t matter. You don’t really have anything worthy to write.” But today, I have once again found my identity and my purpose. I’m going to write and let Holy Spirit take it from here. As for me, I’m going to follow Jesus wherever He leads me. I’d like to end with one more scripture.

My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me; [John 10:27]

Aug 31

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Isaiah 40:31

Soar High on WingsMonday, August 31, 2020

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow  weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Personal note: I could hardly wait to get to this last verse! As an eaglet, it is one of my most favorite verses. This whole chapter has been building to this crescendo of promise. Isaiah 40 begins with comfort, moves to shout and prepare for the Lord, establishes His awesome wisdom and power as Eternal Creator of everything, reminds us that He will judge sin and idolatry, promises He sees everything in us and around us, and then gives us power and strength so we can fly like eagles. All we need to do is TRUST HIM!

  • Oh, Lord! You are so marvelous! You know every bit of us, our personal needs, our relationships, our work — simply everything we need for wholeness and happiness. And all You ask is that we trust You. Indeed I do!
  • I can’t look at the morning dew, admire the sunset, listen to the birds, see the twinkle in my granddaughter’s eye without thinking of You and what You have created for me to enjoy.
  • When I’m weary, discouraged, lacking energy or even drive, You are there to speak to my soul. I can just hear Your voice, “Get up! Get up! WE get to enjoy a brand new day.” That’s the thing about you–it’s NEW. You never change and yet You always have a fresh way to speak to me. Your words strengthen my resolve.
  • Just like the eagle who can look the sun straight in the eye, increase my ability to see Your Son every day in my surroundings and in Your word.
  • The eagle is bold and can climb to unreal heights. I want to be brave and bold too. Just as the mother eagle picks up her falling eaglet on her back, let me soar on Yours. Show me new and exciting revelations about You and Your Kingdom.
  • Teach me caution. Teach me to hunt. Teach me to be a good mate and a good mother. Teach me to find the best perches as a watchman for Your Kingdom.
  • When doubt or unbelief try to slip in, wake me/shake me once again. Like Thomas, help my unbelief and help me to trust!

6 Traits of an Eagle | Traits of the Eagle and How It Pertains to Our Christian Walk

Aug 30

Isaiah 40:30

Isaiah DeclarationsSunday, August 30, 2020

“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.” (NLT)
“Even the youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall.” (KJV)

Personal note: At almost 70, I “get this”. As a youth, I could stay up to all hours, find energy whenever I needed it, and accomplish great physical effort. I might have slowed down in my physiology, but inside, I’m stronger than ever. How is that? Decades of learning to yield to the Lord’s wisdom, taking my burdens to Him, trying to keep my heart pure, and believing in Him and His promises makes me stand in His strength. We understand weak, tired, faint, weary, but I was intrigued with stumble and fall. They are actually the same Hebrew word, kashal, meaning stagger, totter, fail, failing, and bring you down. Stumble is used to express intensity or certainty and fall is an incomplete action: past, present or future. (Food for thought.)

  • Thank You, Lord, You are always there to pick us up when we fall. All we need to do is look up and take Your outstretched hand. Your faithful love endures forever. (Ps 136:12)
  • You, Who are without age, understand our frailty. Our Jesus was tired. He was hungry. He was hurt and disappointed. But, thanks be to Your eternal plan, He was despised, rejected, and acquainted with grief, and suffered in our place. He rose and we will too. (Isaiah 53) Hallelujah!
  • Father, in these days of confusion and generational division, You know our needs. Strengthen us. Lead us to an oasis of love and peace and certainty in You. And from that place, help us to guide and strengthen the younger generation.
  • Encourage us to be a helping hand as an extension of Yours. As You lift our burdens, show us where we can lift burdens off others. Give us Your language of love to communicate with those who are weak and weary.
  • Teach us how to be mothers and sisters, aunts and godmothers. Purify our hearts and thoughts. Help us to think outside the box of rules and the way things have always been done to find ways to lift their spirits, engage their faith, and show them a better way. (1 Tim 5:2)
  • In the mighty name of Jesus, we bind confusion, false teaching and doctrines, and the rebellious spirit of this present age, we loose heaven’s power to fight every spirit that seeks to overthrow righteousness, peace and joy. May Your Kingdom come! (Rom 14:17)

Aug 29

Isaiah 40:29

Isaiah DeclarationsSaturday, August 29, 2020

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”

Personal note: I looked up that word, “power” in Hebrew. It’s koah and other than strength, power and might, it can mean a small lizard. I did a little more research and the koah is known as a desert monitor. It hibernates quite a bit and spends most of its time underground. They are cold-blooded and need the sun to warm their bodies. So, how does power and strength apply here? Well, when we’re down-and-out, having little hope, what do most people do? They hide.

  • How marvelous You are, Lord, to constantly be watching over us, seeking our company, and desiring Your perfect plan for our lives. (Jer 29:11)
  • When we are weak, YOU are strong. (2 Cor 13:9) When our energy is zapped and we can’t go on, You are there to pick us up and point the way forward. Jesus, You are the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. (John 14:6)
  • Today we lift up those who are discouraged, those who are under demonic attack, those who suffer from illness, those who have painful relationships, and we ask for Your presence and comfort in the their lives.
  • Raise up warriors and heroes to speak for those who can’t find their voice or have cried so long, their cries are no longer heard. You hear every cry and You treasure every tear. (Ps 56:8) Inflame our hearts towards righteousness and truth. Help us to be Your hands and feet.
  • Expand our hearts with Your compassion. Provide opportunities to show Your love.
  • You never tire. You are never weary or faint, but You know our frailty. We need Your encouragement to go on, to climb higher, and to reach further for ourselves and others.

Aug 28

Isaiah 40:28

Isaiah DeclarationsFriday, August 28, 2020

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.”

Personal note: I can just see the shake of His head and the hear the sadness in His voice as the Lord once again asks if anything He’s done for us has registered in our hearts. The earth, the oceans, the mountains, the stars, and best of all, each and every one of His beautiful children were created in His wisdom and through and for His glory. He is beyond measuring, and yet His greatest desire is an intimate relationship with each one of us. Of all He’s created, His most marvelous treasure is found in us and our capability to love Him back.

  • We marvel at Your brilliance, Lord. You’ve known each and every one of us since the foundation of the world. Before You flung the universe and named the stars, You saw our faces and You knew our names. How magnificent You are!
  • Open our ears to hear Your voice. Open our eyes to see You in our world and in each other. Open our minds to calculate, compute, reason and understand, but most especially open our hearts to receive Your love and give it back to You.
  • Our lives have limited days, but Yours are forever. Help us extract the most from You each day. Give us wisdom to number our days. (Ps 90:12) Thank You, Jesus, that You never age or change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb 13:8)
  • We are weak and weary at times, Lord. Stresses of life, responsibilities, unforeseen events weaken our resolve and drain our resilience. You are never weak or weary. Call us to rest in You. Revive us when we find You. Remind us, yet once again, of Your love.
  • Today, we ask for Your intervention with souls dear to us who still refuse to acknowledge You and Your lordship in their lives. We know You’ve spoken to them time and time again, but Lord, we appeal to You once more. Save their souls. Draw them to Truth and Salvation.
  • During these days of disruption, division, disunity, and destruction, we ask for Your intervention in our cities and nation. Awaken the sleeping church to appeal to heaven in prayer. Raise up godly men and women into positions of authority in local, state, and national government positions. Protect our nation from the evil one and his influence. Reestablish Yourself in this nation: One Nation Under God!
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