7/2/11- The Freedom of LIfe

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² 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. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Thoughts; The thief only comes to get something from us.  But Jesus came to give us something- life- the abundant life.  Here Jesus says He is the shepherd who owns us- because He made us and knows us.  Jesus is not just another philosopher who has no investment in the person learning the philosophy.  He is different from just another religious teacher who may teach thousands without knowing any.  Jesus knows us intimately, cares for us and seeks to help us.  Many have the idea that Jesus came to take our joy away by giving us commands that make us feel guilty.  But Jesus came to teach us how to live in order to have life to the fullest.  Christ frees us to be all that we can be by freeing us from sin. 

Prayer: Help me to trust in your guidance and in the joy you want to give me.