Say it by heart with me today, as we choose to follow our Good Shepherd.
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isa 53:6 NIV
One of the countless reasons Jesus is such a Good Shepherd is because He will not force Himself on us. He is a Gentle Shepherd. He calls to us. He draws us in through the various events in our lives. He even woos us with His goodness and mercy. But force us? Never. And why? Because that is not godly Love. Love offers, and we potential sheep, the aim of Love’s affection, must respond to this invitation, one way or the other.
Think of it this way: if I fell in love with my husband, Joe, at first sight, but then walked over to him and said, “Hi. I have already determined that you are going to be mine forevermore, whether you like it or not.” What kind of reaction would I expect? Love offers itself, but then does not bully the other person to comply or else. My Friends, God is not a tyrant… that’s the other guy. God is Love and so He offers to provide and protect, then lead His sheep. If we choose to become a member of His flock, awesome! But then we must continue to choose to become familiar with His Voice too. Salvation and Sanctification, so we can Serve. Those are the three callings of God…will we choose to answer them?
God is Calling
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
August: 30- Ro 8:1; 31- Pr 4:23; 32- Pr 18:21; 33- Ps 118:24; 34- 1Jn 4:4
35- Mt 16:24
36- Isa 53:6
<>< Peace, Diane
