Friday, October 1, 2010

Protection

Joh 10:7-18  "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  (8)  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  (9)  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  (10)  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.  (11)  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  (12)  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.  (13)  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  (14)  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  (15)  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  (16)  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  (17)  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  (18)  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
So, Jesus had just been telling the disciples the parable, and as usual, they were confused, so this is the explanation.

Two things stood out to me here.  One was that Christ said that, as opposed to those that come to steal He was "come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  Christ is our head as we are our wives head, and our wives ought to be able to say that we have contributed toward an overflowing of life for them.

The other thing was Christ's choice to love the Church by laying His life down for it.  How often do I balk at laying my life down for Gracie?  Christ is both my Example and my Provider and Sustainer.  Lord, help me to bless and love my wife.



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