I forgot
Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you explained something to someone, and they came back to you later and asked questions as if you never mentioned it before?
They said things like, “Hey, tell me about this,” or maybe they said, “How long are you going to keep that to yourself?” Maybe they asked, “Can you tell me why?”
It happens to everyone
You are not alone. Jesus experienced the same thing several times.
Let’s see what He says in John 10:22-27, “Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you, and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me….”
Jesus already told them, but they didn’t listen
I loved His response to the Jews. It makes me chuckle because I can hear Jesus say these words. I picture their reaction with noses in the air, hands staunch at their sides.
Here we go again, explaining what He already told them earlier. It’s like talking to our children sometimes when they ask for the piece of candy, and we have already said no five times. “I said no, but you aren’t listening to me.”
How many times have you said that or something similar? You get the idea. The principle that keeps coming back to the forefront is that Jesus knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. The Jewish leaders didn’t believe because they weren’t one of His sheep.
Do you recognize a sheep when you see one?
As we run across people today, we should ask ourselves, “Are they one of Jesus’ sheep?”
Sounds silly I know, but when you get down to it, that’s probably one of the most important questions we can ask. Let’s not reserve the questions for others. We must ask ourselves – Do we know Jesus?
Let’s pray
Father, a sheep, isn’t very bright. I love that Jesus uses sheep as an example, something so simple, to explain, yet something so serious. I pray God that people hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
In His Service
Jeanette Duby, The Teaching Lady
#sheep #satan #enemy #God #bible
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