Today's Passage - John 10:11-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 10:11-18   "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.    Jesus states here that he is the good shepherd. The good shepherd is different from a hired hand. When the good shepherd sees the flock in danger he will do everything he can to protect and rescue them. However, if it's the hired hand, when there's danger, he will protect his own life first and escape as quickly as possible. The good shepherd knows his sheep and he will bring them together into the flock. In verse 16, Jesus says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock..." The Lord Jesus mentions especially here that his target is the Jews at that time, yet in the future there will be many Gentiles who will turn to the Lord. The Jews cannot see these sheep, but in reality they belong to the Lord. The Gentiles will turn to the Lord and these sheep will also be in the sheep pen of God!   Brothers and sisters, we need to really thank God! Originally, because we are Gentiles we do not have a portion in God's kingdom. However, in fact God has already known us before we decided to turn and receive the Lord. He has already known that he has a flock of sheep that is not in the sheep pen of the Jews. And the Lord will bring them back to the same shepherd. For this reason we should offer our thanksgiving and praise!   Whoever follows the Lord belongs to the Lord. The most important question in your life is not who you are, because your identity often changes. You may be a student in the past, but now you are an engineer; you may be single before, but now you are married; you may be a new bride before, but now you are a mom. The most important question in your life is: "Who do you belong to?" If you belong to yourself, you will find that your wisdom and abilities are limited. But if you know that you belong to the Lord, even though the enemy will attack you, but he will not overcome you. The world may surround and press all around you, but it has no ability to overcome you! Hallelujah! The moment that you know you belong to God, then you know that God will never leave you and you will forever belong to him! You can depend on God every day, following him, and experiencing his rich abundant grace!                                          Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I offer to you my thanksgiving for I am in your sheep pen! Even though I am not worthy, but by your grace this is accomplished! Lord, help me to live out a life that belongs to you, so that you can receive the most glory! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!