Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday November 4, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 9-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-4

Today's Message: Our Good Shepherd
Christians are not second class citizens, we carry the power and authority of God. Every person that seeks after Jesus Christ are one of Christ's sheep and need not fear because our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ is with us.

People who live in the world often wonder if God is real or if He is such a loving God then why is there so much pain and suffering placed on people. At the same time, many Christian's will see someone suffering and wonder what sin this person committed to be in such pain. I had a child in my Sunday school class ask me, “Why does God let good people get hurt and not the bad people?” The truth is this, while we are all subject to judgment (conviction) of sins, those whom believe in and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior are forgiven children of the One and Only Living God. Therefore, not everything we go through in life is happening because we have sinned or someone sinned against us. To prove this, Jesus answers His disciples whom were questioning why a man was born blind. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” - John 9:1-3. God uses infirmities or suffering to strengthen us and show us that God is true and alive, not to convict us. His blindness was given so that the works of God may be illustrated through him. This man was predestined by God to be blind for the purpose of fulfilling this illustration given here by Jesus. His blindness happened so that we could have this lesson given by Jesus to help us understand that not all suffering is caused by sin and that God can do the impossible. Jesus Said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” - Mark 10:27.

God has given us all the free will to decide whether or not we want Him in our lives. He will not cause anything to come upon a person or force a person into accepting Jesus Christ into their lives. He will not cause anything to come upon a person to force that person into His service, until that person has committed himself to the Father, through Jesus Christ. That person of free will volunteers into God's service, after receiving salvation through Jesus Christ, and then while in the service of the Lord, God will lead and protect. For those that have free will, God will not intercede in their lives until they do repent and come to Christ, for on judgment day when a soul stands before the Father there will be no excuse that God caused them to fall, and prohibited them from being saved. Every person on this earth will have the opportunity to know who Jesus is and accept Him into their lives and they will see where they lost that opportunity on judgment day. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” - Matthew 24:13,14.

One of the distinguishing marks of a Christian is recognizing the need for guidance and a desire to follow the Good Shepherd. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.......Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” - John 10:1,2,7-12. Christ is the door. If any person tries to enter into God's sheepfold by any other way other then going through the true Christ, he is a thief and a robber. The sheepfold is a holding place where the shepherd houses the sheep in for the night. It was a place of protection. When the Shepherd would open the gate, the shepherd would hold his rod out, and count the sheep as they passed under the rod. Then when all the sheep had entered in, the gate was shut, and the shepherd stood watch for the night.

Christians today are short changed by there lack of understanding of this. They are afraid to go "in and out", meaning you can have peace of mind anywhere in this world. You are safe not only inside the sheepfold, but outside the sheepfold. You can go out into the world, and you don't have to be afraid of someone taking away your salvation. You don't have to fear what will be said of you if you see the Word is not being taught and you voice your opinion. You don't have to be afraid of anything. When Jesus went to the cross, and died and rose again; He did that for each person that has the eyes to see and the ears to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd. Friend, every day is a good day when you are in the Lord. We should learn to know the discipline that the Lord might bring upon us and thank Him for that correction, and when the blessings come thank Him also for them. The Lord is pleased when you try to please Him.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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