Final Words
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:27-28
Reflection
When asked what his final words of advice to his children would be, Apologist John Lennox replied, “Not only to my children but to anybody. Our lives rushed past. We have become fixated on digital equipment that’s robbing us of time. People say to me they have no time. They have loads of time. If you want to know how much time you've got, just ask yourself a simple question: How much time have I spent in the last week fiddling with a piece of digital equipment and doing things that have no relevance to my profession or my life? And then say I haven't got enough time. We are robbing ourselves of the most important thing in life if we are Christians, and that is seeking fellowship with God through His word. You will never make any impact on this world by reading the bible for five minutes before you jump into bed.”
Ouch! Sound familiar? Sadly, I can relate.
Application
In the Parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus used the analogy of a Shepherd and his sheep to illustrate His intimate relationship with His followers. In verse 27, He states, “My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” This is a statement of intimacy and obedience.
How intimate is your relationship with the Lord? Could you distinguish His word from false teaching and His character from that of false teachers?
I have heard that the best way to identify a counterfeit is to study the real thing. John 8:44 says that Satan is the “father of lies.” One of the weapons he uses to deceive us is leading us to believe his lies about how God views us. He tells us that we don’t deserve God and that God could never love us. These lies are precisely that: lies. We can defend ourselves against his lies by dedicating ourselves to studying God’s truth revealed in His Word.
So, where do we start?
Pastures Servant Leadership Training and Mentoring co-labourer Joe Mears recently reminded our ministry team of the SOAP Bible Study Method.
Scripture: Thoroughly read a short passage or a chapter in the Bible.
Observation: Take note of any interesting details. What is the main message? Are there any themes that stand out? Is there repetition? Any commands? Write down your observations.
Application: Think about the original context and audience. Then, consider how the passage can be applied to your life. Does it call for a change of behaviour, perspective or attitude? If so, think about scenarios to apply what you have learned.
Pray: Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you through your intimate time in the Word. Ask Him to open your heart and mind to receive God’s message. Ask Him to reveal how the message can be applied to your life and how you can use what you have learned to bless others. Above all, ask Him to draw you into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus so you will know His voice and faithfully obey His Word.
Don’t wait; you can start now! The time is there. Claim it.
Yours in Christ,
Brad