Do you have a shepherd?

Do you have a shepherd? The Bible is full of agricultural images. One of the greatest is the image of sheep and shepherd. We are all like sheep following someone or something. The question is -- Do you have a "good shepherd"?

Most of us are familiar with Psalm 23. Psalm 23:1 begins "The Lord is my shepherd." Jesus picks up on the image of sheep and shepherd in John 10, saying, "I am the good shepherd." (10:11)

You probably have never seen a shepherd up close, but you may have a pretty good idea of a shepherd's job. The shepherd is responsible to take care of the sheep and keep them safe from harm. The shepherd's job is hands-on, 24-7. You can't be a shepherd from a distance; you have to be willing to get involved, and to get your hands dirty. When Jesus compared himself to a shepherd he made a number of interesting comparisons that reveal a lot about our relationship with Jesus. Let's take a look.

1. Jesus points out that sheep listen to the shepherd's voice (10:3-4). I can tell you from working with farm animals, especially horses, that sheep listen to the shepherd's voice because 1) they recognize the shepherd's voice, and 2) they have come to trust the shepherd's voice. The shepherd has spent much time with the sheep to earn this trust.

2. Jesus points out that the shepherd leads the sheep and calls them by name (10:3-4). Most of us have a picture of the shepherd herding the sheep much as cowboys herd cattle on the movie screen. But Judean shepherds would often go out in front and call to the sheep to follow. Real leadership is not manipulation. It is showing someone a better way and call them to step forward.

Jesus personalized the shepherd's role by adding that the shepherd calls the sheep by name. A good shepherd knows his sheep, even by name.

3. Jesus points out that the sheep run from a strange voice (10:5). Not only do the sheep know the shepherd's voice, but they run from a strange voice. Believe it or not animals recognize you or not fairly quickly. They know you by your smell, by your voice, and sometimes by your mannerisms. One of the characteristics of those who follow Jesus is that we are quick to flee other voices. You can't follow multiple shepherds.

A good shepherd not only keeps the sheep safe, he leads the sheep into green pastures, and abundant water. A good shepherd provides life for the sheep. Jesus offers himself to us as the good shepherd. It's up to us to follow his lead and listen to his voice.

I hope you will turn to him as your shepherd. See you Sunday. Tom Ragsdell

Spiritual Blindness

How would you define spiritual blindness? If you know someone who struggles with their sight, you know how truly precious good eyesight can be. Most of us have pretty good eyesight. Unfortunately spiritual eyesight is not as common.

This past week we took a look at Jesus' words "I am the light of the world." In the following chapter (9) Jesus heals a man born blind and then warns the Pharisees about spiritual blindness. In the story of the blind man gaining sight we receive a simple definition of "spiritual blindness."

Jesus says to the Pharisees "For judgement I have come into this world so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." (John 9:39) What did Jesus mean? I think the answer is both profound and a simple. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5, when he said, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit."? He is saying something very similar here.

Spiritual blindness is failing to acknowledge your need for God's help. If you think you have it all together and everything under control, God's word says, "you are blind". How many people do you know that are trying to live life on their own? Somewhere in their heart or mind they are convinced they can make it in their own strength.

Jesus reminds us that spiritual eyesight begins when we acknowledge our need for God. There are many ways to acknowledge God in your life. Pause for prayer with your family. Begin a devotional life of personal prayer and Bible study. Submit your finances to God. Participate in church life. You can probably add to the list.

The most important thing is that we never look past God in our pursuit for sight or success in this life or the life to come.

Join us Sunday at the ARC as we consider steps to spiritual eyesight. Tom Ragsdell

Connecting with God

Just got the rough draft icon for our January series on prayer. It's entitled, "Connecting with God". It's a five part series on the importance of prayer. Just wanted to get the word out and ask you to spread the word.

More later on prayer. . . . Tom

Walking in the Light

Are you walking in the light? Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world."

Here's some ways you can walk in the light:

1. Change highways - When Jesus said, "I am the light of the world", he also said, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The Greek word akoloutheo means "to follow" or "to be in the same path or way together".

If you want to walk in the light you have to get on the right road. You have to step off your own path or the path of darkness and step onto Jesus' path of light. Walking in the light requires crossing over from darkness to light. You can't have it both ways.

2. Hold on for the ride - Jesus spoke of discipleship in these terms, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." (8:31)

Holding on the the teaching of Jesus requires the heart of a learner and a willingness to obey. If you "hold on" tightly to Jesus' ways you are destined to live in the light. So, once you choose Jesus' path, you have to stick with it and don't give up.

3. Live with Truth - Jesus described the results of walking in the light with these words, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Truth has a way of exposing error. Just like light dispels darkness, so truth cuts away at the error and sin in our lives. Jesus said of himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." To know Christ is to know Truth. To know Truth is to walk in the freedom and life-changing power of Christ .

Walking in the light begins when we open up our lives to receive more of Christ's light. As we walk on the path together, Jesus' light produces a changed life full of light, truth, and freedom.

Have a great day as you walk in the light. Pastor Tom

Jesus and forgiveness

Have you ever needed forgiveness? I mean, you really messed up and you need someone to offer you mercy and forgive your mistake. Forgiveness is one of the most important teachings of the Bible. All cultures share the idea of mercy or forgiveness, but the Bible's teaching on forgiveness is unique for a number of reasons.

John's gospel tells us the story of the woman caught in adultery (8:1-11). There are three characters who stand out in the story line. They are the critics, the criminal, and Christ. The critics are the "teachers of the law and the Pharisees". They are more focused on trapping Jesus than showing concern for the welfare of the woman. For them the woman is nothing more than an object with which to trap Jesus. Jesus points out their hypocrisy with the words, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (8:7)

The woman, of course, is a criminal. By Jewish law she could be legally stoned for her trespass of adultery. But so could the man! So where was he?! Leviticus 20:10 says, "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress should be put to death."

Christ is on center stage in this drama. Both because the religious leaders want to trap him and because the woman needs his compassion and forgiveness. Jesus doesn't ignore or minimize her sin, but neither does he condemn her. Instead, he offers her compassion and hope for the future.

Where do you see yourself in the story? Are you more like the critics or the compassionate Christ? The Bible says "confess your faults one to another" (James 5:16), not confess the faults of others. A critic is someone who loves to point out everyone else's problems, pretending that they have none of their own. Christ, on the other hand, shows us a better way. The next time someone you know fails miserably, why not show them compassion and offer them a better way.

Maybe, as you read this, you can identify with the woman? We've all messed up in life. Too often we allow our sins to condemn us and keep us tied to the past. Receive the forgiveness of Jesus into your life today and move past your mistakes and short comings. Jesus offers us not only compassion, but also cleansing. He said to the woman, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." (8:11)

Through the power of forgiveness we can rise up to live a life free from the past. I'm praying for you today to receive the forgiveness which Jesus offered the woman in John 8.

Have a great week, Pastor Tom

The Hard Sayings

Have you ever thought about the "hard sayings" of Jesus?Many of Jesus' teachings are easy to swallow; others not so easy! Teachings such as God is loving or God is forgiving are attractive to everyone who reads them (John 3:16).

In Jesus day many were attracted to the moral beauty and life-changing power of Jesus' teachings. But what about the harder sayings and the claims which Jesus made about himself. Let's take a look at just a few of these teachings. What about Jesus' teaching to "go the extra mile" or to "turn the other cheek"? What about his command to "love your enemies" and to "do good to those who mistreat you"? Those are easy to understand, but hard to live out. They are hard sayings. What do you think might have been the hardest saying of Jesus?

In John 6, the crowd ran into another hard saying of Jesus. This time it was a claim about himself. Jesus had been teaching about manna from heaven and the bread of life. Hours earlier he had worked one of the greatest miracles anyone had ever witnessed -- the feeding of the 5,000 plus. Then Jesus said something which caused many who were following him to scratch their heads.

"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-58)

John adds these words, "On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" And then in one of the saddest verses in the Bible, John reports, "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." (John 6:66)

Have you ever thought about what it would take for you to turn away from following Jesus? Many in Jesus day followed him because of his miracles and their own personal agendas. Not unlike us today. John makes it clear that by John 6 Jesus has become popular and the crowd hopes Jesus will fulfill their expectation for a Messiah. What was it about Jesus' words in John 6:53-58 that turned them away from Jesus?

The Jews of Jesus' day were looking for a human Messiah form the line of David. They were hoping for a conquering warrior who would set up his throne in Jerusalem and rule Judea much as David had ruled. God had a different plan and Jesus was the fulfillment of that plan. You see the Jews knew exactly what Jesus was saying. He was claiming to be a divine Messiah, not just a Jew from Nazareth.

This claim was very hard to accept for many Jews and many folks today. But that, in a nutshell, is the teaching of Jesus in the gospels. He is manna from heaven; God himself come down to save humanity.

Many were unwilling to believe, but many others believed and followed Jesus. What do you really believe about Jesus? Is he just a good man? A great prophet? Or could he be the One he claimed to be--God in human form?

Join us Sunday at New Life as we take a look at the hard sayings of Jesus. See you at the ARC at 10:15. It will be worth your time.

Pastor Tom