Understanding the Motive

Differences

I’m quite certain if we reflect on how certain people entered our life we would not be so eager to keep them around. In this moment reflect on the healthiest relationship you have. Considering the fact that the relationship is healthy, how did that person end up in your life? Furthermore, what type of work and accountability has it taken to get to a place of health.

Then, lets take a walk down the not so healthy side. What about the toxic relationships in your life? How did those people enter your life? Sometimes the most toxic relationships are with people you did not choose to be around. They might be related to you. In this case, ask yourself how they continue to stay around. What ways are they getting in and out of your life.

John chapter 10 Jesus provides us with another analogy on who He is. This illustration emerges as Jesus states, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”.

The question on the floor is this, are people consulting Jesus before entering the pasture that you’re in? Or are the people in your life hopping the fence and in your life to see what they can take from you? There are fundamental differences between Jesus and Satan as it pertains to the pasture. The tough part is having the discernment to know who came in the right way.

Jesus Comes in Truth

“Most assuredly, I say to you” healthy relationships are based on truth. We’ve thought too long that healthy relationships are based on happiness, but honestly it’s the truth that adds health to a relationship. Understand that the pasture is the livelihood of the sheep. The pasture is where the sheep eat, live and find protection.

Jesus sets the tone with truth, Most assuredly or indeed it is true that, or verily, verily I say to you, or I tell you the truth, I solemnly assure you. This participle ensures strong affirmed of what is declared that Jesus is the only way!

Jesus knows us as people, he compares us to sheep because it’s our in human nature like sheep to wander and be curious. We need a shepherd to guide us, just like Jesus is aware of our giftedness and multi-purpose nature, so is the enemy. The enemy can cause you to think that you are doing things the right way when all the enemy wants to do is destroy you.

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Let truth be your guide, and let us not be prideful to the point that we do not think that we can be guided in the wrong direction when we do not focus on Jesus.

1 Peter 2:25 “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

The Backdoor of Relationships

The enemy doesn’t come in through the way of Jesus because the enemy is a liar and everything about the enemy is a lie. Understand that lie presented in a beautiful way is never truth is just a lie with a bow on it. The enemy climbs in another way, sure the enemy desires you as well, but only desires you to the point that you are useful to their deceitful ways and shenanigans.

Pay attention to the way the enemy enters your life, climbs in some other way, similar to a thief and a robber. The thief and robber have no aspiration but to steal and kill. No matter how they treat you in the pasture. No matter how kind and gentle they seem the goal is to do whatever it takes to get you away from the shepherd to utterly destroy you.

It’s interesting that the thief and the robber come in the same way but go about their debauchery in a different manner.

Thief or “klepto” the root word for kleptes in the greek which means to simply steal. Typically in a manner when you are not looking, typically you do not know the person has stolen said item until you are looking for it.

In relationships this person shows up in the pasture looking like the perfect guide or candidate for this relationship, yeah eventually you will look up and everything you thought you were receiving was a ploy to walk away leaving you destitute.

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The robber does their due diligence by force and violence, we typically have a keen eye for these individuals, nonetheless our discernment is important because we need to be aware of the way people enter our lives.

Indication of Church Leadership

Paul states that we ought to imitate him as he imitates Christ Jesus. “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. This shepherd answered the call of Jesus, this shepherd was given access by Jesus. This is what we need in our churches today. We need leaders that have access because Jesus gave them access. We need leaders that Jesus has opened doors for!

The Shepherd should smell like sheep! There’s no way you can lead God’s people if you do not know God’s people.

Jesus Chose This

Jesus is in control of the pasture. He is the everlasting Pastor of Pasture. The sheep know his voice, when we know the voice of Jesus we won’t follow a stranger because what is being said will not sound the same. Jesus sounds different because His sacrifice was different. Jesus chose those nails in his hand, Jesus carried that cross. See when you make sacrifices for the people like Jesus did, you’re voice sounds different.

This is why Jesus could say “love your neighbor as yourself”

This is why Jesus could say “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”

This is why Jesus could say “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”

This is why Jesus could say “love your enemies, bless those who curse you”

This is why Jesus could say “not my will but my father’s which art in Heaven”

This is why Jesus could say “ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you”.

This is why Jesus could say “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”.

When you are willing to lay your life down for the sheep you talk different, or as the young folks say, I brag different, cause I’m built different. See the enemy can’t talk like Jesus because the enemy didn’t sacrifice like Jesus. The world can’t understand how the Christian talks because the world didn’t make the same choice that the Christian made.

I’m listening to the shepherd that identifies with me as a friend, I’m listening to the shepherd that loves me and is willing to protect me and leave the 99 to seek the one that wandered off! I’m thankful that Jesus stood in my sinful place and took the nails in his hands, I’m thankful that Jesus was able to conquer death, I’m thankful that Jesus was able to rise from the dead! I’m thankful for his invitation to follow him! I’m thankful that through baptism I can have a new lease on life. I’m thankful that Jesus is only a prayer a way, I’m thankful that He’s placed me in a church with folks that care about me, and love me even when I’m not my best self!

Thank you for being the Good Shepherd!