August 12, 2013

Today we come to the end of the SLOW Time series. 

We'll be looking at T.I.M.E. today. Time ... how can such a small little word have such an impact on our lives? I don't remember where I heard this line, but I once heard someone say that time is the stuff life is made of. I'd like to adapt that saying a bit and give you one of my acrostics to remember this lesson by:

T.I.M.E. =  Trust In Me Everyday

Now the "me" in that sentence is referring to Jesus, of course. I think it's an appropriate phrase to end our series with because we have been talking these past weeks about SLOWING down so we can really appropriate the abundant life our Shepherd offers.

I believe the heart of really being able to do that is trust. We must trust our shepherd, Jesus, as we sit with Him, listen and learn from Him, obey and offer ourselves to Him and worship Him. If we fail to "Trust In Me (Jesus) Everyday," it is difficult to effectively do any of those things.

The last verse of the 23rd Psalm says:

Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life andI will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:6

Let's look at some key words in that verse so we can glean anything from it that will help us Trust our Shepherd.

Surely means without a doubt, rest assured. This term is used when there is full assurance or belief in something.

Goodness- good thing, benefit, prosperity, welfare, things that are excellent

Mercy- merciful kindness, favor, good deed

Follow - to run after, chase, hunt, pursue to the point of harassment

Days- (literally) sunrise to sunset, (figuratively) a space of time defined by an associated term, continually

Life - living thing, alive

Dwell- to sit down, to remain, to settle, to marry, abide, establish, inhabit

Forever- always, continually

Using these meanings we could reconstruct Psalm 23:6 to say:

Surely (without a doubt), goodness (good, excellent and beneficial things) and mercy (merciful kindness and favor) will follow (run after, chase, hunt and pursue me to the point of harassment) all the days of my life (as long as I am living here on earth) and I will dwell (make my home with, abide, establish, inhabit) in the LORD's house forever (always).

This reminds me that whether I'm alive here on Earth or alive with Jesus in Heaven, I can trust that I will have abundant life as I SLOW down and look to my Shepherd, Jesus.

I have another acrostic for you today. It's for the word "trust." I have to give credit to my friend, Paula Beckman, for this one.

Trust is: 

The Righteous Understanding of the Savior's Timing

If we could all just remember that statement in our days here on planet Earth, wouldn't our lives be a little more extraordinary? I worry, fret and basically come unglued when things don't happen when I think they should. And if I would just step back and SLOW down, I could take a 30,000-foot view of things and realize that I need to TRUST my Shepherd (i.e. understand His timing). I could live a happier, more joyful, abundant life. 

Acts 1:7 addresses this issue of timing. The disciples had just asked Jesus when the kingdom would be restored and this was Jesus' response:

You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. (The Message)

I love that! It's not my business. So why do I fret over it? I fret because I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and put them on my self or my situation. I have gotten all caught up in life and have forgotten to SLOW down and trust in my Shepherd.

Jesus goes on to tell them in verse 8 that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. So often we forget to tap into the power and assurance we have in the Holy Spirit because we don't SLOW down long enough toSit and Seek, Listen and Learn, Obey and Offer, Worship and Trust our Shepherd.

SLOW down right now and ask yourself these questions.

• Can you identify any areas in your life where you need to trust your Shepherd?
• Will you step back and take a 30,000-foot look at them and try to view them in light of the truths we have talked about today?

I suggest writing these questions down in a journal and answering them on paper. SLOW down, take in that "bigger" picture and write down what you see. Thencommit to trust your Shepherd with them and pray, pray, pray!

Oh, how I have enjoyed revisiting these truths that God showed me years ago. I needed this reminder. I needed toSLOW down and just "be" with my Shepherd.

Below are some "Power Verses" that can help us as we continue our journey to the extraordinary, abundant life.

• Philippians 4:4-9
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 10:10
• Zechariah 4:6
• Psalm 18

   

Jacqueline C. Heider 

Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

August 5, 2013

Sit and Seek ...

Listen and Learn ...

Obey and Offer ...

W 

  

Psalm 23:5 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

In the weeks prior we have looked at several steps to abundant living. We've learned that as we sit with God and seek after Him we are satisfied. We know that to experience the extraordinary life God has planned for us we must each have teachable spirits and be listening for the Shepherd's voice. We discovered the importance of obedience and surrender as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

This week we will see that worship leads us to victory in the battles of life. We will come to understand that the pathway to abundant living is paved with praise and adoration for our marvelous Shepherd, Jesus.

Without a doubt, we will have enemies in life, some big and some small. But God is prepared to conquer our enemies and fill us with the joy of our salvation. I want to look at two Old Testament battles that were fought and won by the Lord and discover two actions we can take to worship God and win the battle.

 Read Exodus 17:8-11.

In this passage as Moses raises his hands to the heavens, he is proclaiming that God alone is in authority. His hands were a declaration of his surrender and complete dependence on God to win the battle. As Moses held the staff of God in his hand and raised it to the heavens, he proclaimed the Lord. What a beautiful picture of worship in the midst of the enemy.

 

Where are your hands when you are in the thick of battle?

• My hands are busy trying to "do" something myself to defeat the enemy.
• My hands are tied - I'm at my wits end.
• My hands are covering my eyes in fear.
• My hands are covering my ears in frustration.
• My hands are in my pockets as I am trying to buy my way out of the battle.
• My hands are raised to my God who has the power to win the battle for me.

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-28.

What did Jehoshaphat do when he discovered that his enemies were coming to make war?

After he prayed and fasted before all of the people, what did the Lord instruct him to do?

Who did the battle belong to, according to the Lord?

Who did the Lord instruct Jehoshaphat to put at the head of the army (vs. 21)?

What were they to sing?

Did you catch that? Jehoshaphat was instructed by God to send his worshipers to the head of the army! Amazing ... praise sparks victory! The Lord began to send ambushes against their enemies and the battle was won, not from fighting, but from praising!

Read this quote from Jack Hayford:

"Praise in God's presence not only evicts the enemy's badgering, but erects a dwelling place for God's power." 

Not too long ago I experimented with this very principle. I was having a particularly annoying time. I had lost something and needed it right then, my kids were misbehaving, I was trying to cook dinner and nothing was going as it should! In all honesty, I was about to lose it!

By the grace of God, I remembered reading the quote by Jack Hayford and decided that instead of trying to frantically fix my problems, I would patiently praise God in the midst of them. So, I began telling God out loud who He was. It went something like this:

Lord, You are above all things. You are peace in the midst of my chaos. You are holy and perfect. You are faithful, all-powerful, supreme in authority and completely in control! You are ...

I went on and on until suddenly, I calmed down, gained perspective and actually began to feel joy in my heart. I was worshipping and worship escorted me into the presence of God.

So where are you today? Do you need to SLOW down and worship so you can win the battle? Lift your hands and proclaim Him to be supreme. Praise Him and experience His presence. In doing so, you will begin to see the extraordinary happen in your life time and time again.

   

Jacqueline C. Heider 

Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

July 29, 2013

Sit and Seek ... Listen and Learn ... Obey and ... W Read Psalm 23:3b-4. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.     As we saw last week, one of the steps on the pathway to abundant living is obedience. Another step is found inRomans 12:1. Read it below. Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.  As we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we please God through our worship of Him and experience the extraordinary ... His presence in our lives. And this brings great joy!  Psalm 16:11 says, You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,with eternal pleasures at your right hand. I'm not naïve enough to think or tell you that offering myself to God is "a walk in the park." No, this path often feels like"the valley of the shadow of death!" It can be a scary, unknown path; but from personal experience, I can say that it's worth it! I am reminded of one such experience that occurred nearly seven years ago. I was leaving to go on a mission trip to La Courneuve, France. Using the story of Esther as a basis each day, my team was going to be witnessing to Muslim women, teaching them how to present themselves in a Western culture. It was September 11, 2006. It was my first trip out of the country, my first trip away from my children and husband for that period of time (eight days) and lastly, the trip was way outside my comfort zone. That night someone asked me if I was excited about going. The truth of the matter was that I was excited about getting it over with. Deep in my heart I knew God was going to do an amazing thing - I could just sense it! What I didn't know was what that amazing thing was and what I was going to have to endure to see it through. And that scared me to death! As I was packing for the trip, this scripture from Isaiah 53:7 came to my mind, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter yet He did not open His mouth. Though I didn't tell a soul before I went, that was exactly how I felt at that moment. I didn't have a clue what I or my team was going to have to endure on the trip, but I knew that just as Abraham led Isaac to the altar and bound him and placed him on it, I felt as though I was being led to the altar of sacrifice.  Deep down in the depths of my heart though, I was calm.Psalm 23:4 came to my mind. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. I was fearful of what was about to happen, but I knew that God in His sovereignty was in control, and I knew my Shepherd, Jesus, would be with me through it all. God grew me in some incredible ways on that trip. I saw Him intervene, protect, guide and comfort. I truly experienced extraordinary, abundant living as a result because I was exactly in God's will. I was offering myself to Him as a living sacrifice, and it was pleasing to Him. Now there have been other "big" experiences in my life like this where I have "surrendered" in this way, and some when I should have but didn't. But what I want us to consider too is offering ourselves in our daily living. You know those everyday (good, bad, irritating, mundane) things of life? God wants every part of our life. We need to be careful, though. Just offering once isn't enough for us. We are "living sacrifices," and it's easy for us to slither right down off the altar and run around it or run away from it! That's why every morning when we wake up we should climb back up on the altar, stretch out our hands and say something like ... How would you like to use me today, Lord? I offer myself to you and I accept what you have for me today, knowing that you, my Shepherd, are with me.   What kind of pleasure do you think God would receive from that? I believe He longs for us to do that, just as He longs for us to enjoy His pleasure and live the exceedingly abundant life - a life filled with joy in His presence! Questions to ponder: Have you slithered off the altar today? Are you running around the altar doing for God but not truly offering yourself to Him to be used in any way He chooses? Has God asked you to do some "big" thing that scares you to death? Remember, your Shepherd, Jesus, will be with you ... His rod and staff will comfort you. Think about this song as you begin your day today and offer yourself to Him! Songwriters: Louie Giglio, Christopher Tomlin, Traditional Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold Not a mite would I withhold Take my intellect and use Every power as You choose. Chorus Here am I, all of me. Take my life, it's all for Thee. Take my will and make it Thine It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart it is Thine own It shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord I pour At Your feet it's treasure store Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. Chorus Here am I, all of me. Take my life, it's all for Thee.     Jacqueline C. Heider  Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

July 22, 2013

Sit and Seek ... Listen and Learn ... O W Obey and Offer are the next steps to abundant living. We'll look at Obey today. Read Psalm 23:3b-4. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.     Why do you choose to obey God? Out of fear? Out of duty? Out of love and devotion? The primary reason for obeying should come as a result of wanting to live out the following verses:  ... Your name and renown are the desire of our heart.Isaiah 26:8 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:3b There are several men in the BIble that come to mind when I think of obedience. Abraham obeyed by being willing to sacrifice his only son. Noah, in the face of looking foolish to his friends, chose to obey God and build an ark. Moses left his comfort zone in order to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. And Jesus was the most obedient of all. He was obedient even unto death. What did these men accomplish as a result of their obedience? They are incredible examples for us. Abraham is a wonderful example to us of standing firm in trials. God was able to display His glory by providing just what was needed in the nick of time through a miracle.   Noah was not concerned about what others thought or did. He simply obeyed God because he wanted to honor and glorify Him. God, as a result of Noah's obedience, provided protection for Noah and his family. Yet another miracle! Moses stepped out of his comfort zone and when he did, God unleashed miracle after miracle. Jesus obeyed to the fullest extent and glorified God with His whole life. The biggest miracle of all was the result of Christ's obedience. In each of these examples, a miracle (or lots of miracles) followed obedience. Wouldn't you call getting to witness a miracle extraordinary living? I would!!   I wonder if the reason we often experience a lack of "extraordinary" is because we have a lack of whole-hearted obedience in our lives? What has God asked you to do that you just can't seem to obey? Is it fear that is holding you back? Laziness? A seeming lack of resources to accomplish His request? Proverbs 3:5-6 says,  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own  understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. I am reminded of a simple, yet profound truth that applies to this idea of obeying - Obedience brings blessings and blessings equal extraordinary living. Stop right now and pray. Ask the Shepherd to give you the courage to follow Him down "righteous paths for His name sake" so you can experience the  abundant life He has for you! Have a wonderful week!     Jacqueline C. Heider  Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

July 15, 2013

We spent our time last week learning about the importance of being still in God's presence and seeking to know Him daily. We talked about His desire to carry our burdens and lighten our loads. Now that we're "content to just sit," perhaps there is another step to consider.   We can sit all day and never actually learn or put into practice a thing if we are not listening to our Shepherd.  While Sitting and Seeking are heart issues; listening and learning are issues of the heart and mind. Let me explain.  Sitting and Seeking require being still in God's presence, sensing God's desire to be with us and in turn desiring to be with Him, humbling ourselves as we "seek Him with all our hearts," and coming to the realization that if all we could do was sit with our Jesus, that would be all we need! Listening and Learning, however, are an issue of the mind, intellect, and attitude.  It requires a conscious decision on our parts to step down and hand over the reigns to the Lord.  Think about it, to listen we must BE QUIET and to learn we must allow God to TEACH.  I don't know about you, but I like to talk to God.  I like to tell Him what I think every now and then and let Him in on what I think the best agenda is - as though He really needs my suggestions. So, we're on "L" this week and the "L" in SLOW Time stands for, you guessed it, Listen and Learn. The shepherd's job is to lead his sheep and the sheep's job is to listen to the Shepherd's voice and learn to follow him. Let's take a look at Psalm 23:2-3 as these verses can help us learn how to SLOW down and follow our Shepherd, Jesus. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.  Psalm 23:2-3 About Fifteen years ago, I went to my Pastor for advice. I was struggling with learning how to hear God's voice. He told me that there were three criteria that had to be met in order to hear God's voice: You must be constantly in God's Word You must be earnestly seeking God through prayer You need to be ready to hear Him I discovered later that there is a beautiful picture of this inPsalm 23:2-3. Read it again above. First, our Shepherd, Jesus, wants to lead us to lie down in green pastures. I think of this as lying down in the rich, abundant pastures of His Word. For a sheep to lie down in green pastures he must be: Free from hunger Free from fear Free from friction with others Free from flies and parasites Isn't that what God's Word does for us? It satisfies us (frees us from hunger), gives us security (frees us from fear), gives us freedom from the worries and trials of life (frees us from friction with others), and gives us peace from the aggravations of life (frees us from flies and parasites). Next our Shepherd wants to lead us beside still waters.   Sheep can't swim. They are afraid of running water and if they tried to swim it would be like a human swimming with an overcoat on. The sheep would sink because its coat is too bulky! We often go through life sinking instead of swimming because we forget our most powerful life-vest - the quiet, still sweet time of prayer. That is what still waters are to me - time spent alone with the Shepherd - talking, walking, listening, communicating. When I'm on my knees, I'm at rest!! I am beside quiet, still waters. Lastly, we must allow our Shepherd to restore our soul. I have learned through the years that hearing God's voice is like nothing else for me.  It is so recognizable not because it is audible, but because of the sense of peace that I have after I've heard it.  I hear that still, small voice in the depths of my heart and mind.  It is as though a light comes on, I hear God's voice, and I just know.  There is a peace there - a satisfaction, a sense of relief in knowing that the questions are over and the problem is solved.  Even if the answer is not what I wanted, even if the answer requires some work or repentance on my part, my soul is still restored; the turmoil is over and there is rest. I truly believe that our hearts are never more restored than when we hear God's voice. The secret to hearing God's voice lies in your heart's readiness to receive the answer.  And God knows when your heart is ready by hearing you say four little words from Matthew 6:9-10 ... Thy will be done. The Lord knows your heart, your needs, and what is best for you. If you can truly and earnestly say your will be done, Lord, He knows that you are ready to receive His answer. Your heart is in-line with His. It is not divided. It is purely and wholly turned to Him. Matthew 5:8 says,Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. That is what my pastor meant that day I went to Him and he said that I must be ready to hear. He meant that my heart needed to be in a humble and submissive place. I needed to have "no will of my own with regard to the matter" as George Mueller said. So where are you today with regard to Listening and Learning?  Are you lying down in the green pastures of God's Word?  Are you relaxing in the quiet, still waters of prayer?  Is your heart restored and at rest because you have surrendered your will to God? SLOW down this week and focus on these three elements of intimacy with God. You'll be glad you did when you begin to recapture the abundant life your Shepherd has prepared for you!     Jacqueline C. Heider  Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

July 8, 2013

Last week when we began our new series, I said we were going to S.L.O.W. down and consider five steps you can take to move from ordinary to extraordinary, from unsatisfied to satisfied, from lacking to abundant. I also had you read Psalm 23. This week I want to focus in on the first verse from that familiar passage. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 Jesus is our Shepherd. He came to "shepherd" us through life. But what does that mean? Well, it means that, just like a real shepherd's job is to tend, guide and guard his sheep, Jesus' job is to tend, guard and guide us. Imagine, if you can, the life of a shepherd. Vast fields and beautiful pastures, lots and lots of sheep (that aren't very smart, by the way -- oh, did I mention sheep are not highly intelligent creatures? They wander off, do really dangerous and dumb things, have terrible memories and need guidance and direction 24/7! No wonder Jesus compared us to sheep so often!!) ... and lots of time to think and contemplate. The life of a shepherd was not generally a hurried one. It was laid back, serene (most of the time) with plenty of time for interaction between the shepherd and his sheep.   The shepherd was all the sheep could ask for - a loving, caring keeper. The shepherd made sure the sheep had everything it ever needed - food, water, shelter and lots of TLC. The shepherd was "all the sheep needed." Did you notice the second part of Psalm 23:1? "I shall not want." The shepherd took such good care of his sheep, they wanted for nothing. They had everything they needed in him. And we have everything we need in our Good Shepherd, Jesus. But are we content with that? I'm not sure we are. I know that often instead of being content with Jesus, I run after other things. The first lesson from the shepherd on abundant living is to learn to be content to SLOW down and just sit and be with Him. When my little 2-year-old boy JD was learning to talk, he had the funniest way of getting my attention. He is my second-born and sometimes has to vie for my attention (at that time his siblings were 5 years old and 6 months old). When he needed my attention he would repeatedly say, "Sit a me, sit a me..." over and over. What he meant by that, of course, was "Come sit with me. Give me some attention. I want you. I have something to say to you, if you will only stop what you are doing and be still beside me. Give me some of your time, love and attention!" I love it when God speaks to me through my children! Isn't that exactly what the Lord says to us everyday? "Come sit with me." "I want your undivided attention." "I just want you to be with me." "Will you sit with me?" "Give me some of your time, love and attention." He says, "And if and when you do, your life will go from ordinary to extraordinary. You will go from being unsatisfied to completely satisfied, because I am all you need!" Now read Matthew 11:28-30 below. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I love the first three words of verse 28 - Come to me. What an invitation! In this passage, Jesus was giving Jews the invitation to be released from the burden and yoke of sin so that they could be free to experience His grace and mercy rather than the bondage of the law that had entangled them. He gives that same invitation to you and me today. He invites us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to take it further than just a one-time submission to His authority, however. He wants us to live it. He wants us to learn from Him every minute of every day. He doesn't just want us to come to Him; He wants us to come and stay. He desires for us to stop what we are doing, sit down with Him and find rest. I believe that Jesus really doesn't want us to do anything without Him. That's right, nothing!!  Personal Thought Questions: How often do you come to Jesus? When do you come to Him? For what do you come to Him? The perfect answers would be - all the time and for everything! Instead, I believe that our tendency is to come to Him via our quiet time, gain refreshment and nourishment from His Word, and then go about our day. I'm not sure that we always take Him with us. We think we can handle most of what comes in and out of our lives on our own and when the going gets tough, then we decide to come back to Him. What Jesus really wants, though, is for us to come to Him, sit with Him and stay with Him continuously.  Now, "how?", you might ask. "I have a life, a to-do list, responsibilities. How could I possibly sit with Jesus all the time?"  Well, here's your answer. It's a little simplistic, but there is a big nugget of truth in these next few words...Take Him With You. In whatever you are doing, take Him along. That's right. We have things to do. We are very busy women, but our Shepherd needs to be with us. We need Him on every errand, every work decision, every outing, every personal decision, everything - so that He can shepherd us through it. Please don't misunderstand me. I know that as Christians the Holy Spirit resides in us and is always with us. I'm referring to a mental attitude, a conscious awareness and attitude that Jesus is present at all times. Simply imagine that He is there. Talk to Him; ask Him to help you. Practice His presence. It is a mental habit that you can train yourself to do.  Once you begin getting into the habit of taking Him along in your daily tasks, you'll begin to feel more relaxed and at ease. No, your circumstances may not have changed, but your attitude and mental thought process has. Rather than you being in charge - He is! Isn't that how it's supposed to be anyway? Stop right now and pray. Ask God to be evident to you in your daily life. Ask Him to help you get into the habit of practicing His presence so you can experience the abundant life He has planned for you!     Jacqueline C. Heider  Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry

July 1, 2013

Several years ago I wrote a Bible Study titled,

I Could Sure Use Some S.L.O.W. Time ... or Is It God Time? The study flowed from my desire to live the abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 when He said,The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

  

You see I found myself wanting more out of life than just mediocrity. Yes, I was saved. Yes, I was going to church, reading and studying the Bible, and yes, I was serving. Yet somewhere deep inside I was searching for more - more satisfaction from life, more contentment, more joy, more ... Jesus.

So that was then and this is now. Once again at this stage in my life, I find myself asking the same question I asked many years ago: What is this abundant life Jesus promises in John chapter 10?

Let's take a closer look at some key words in that verse.

The Greek word for abundantly in John 10:10 is perissos which more than necessary, exceeding abundantly, supremely, much more than all, superior, extraordinary, remarkable, excellent. 

Life in that verse is rendered from the Greek wordZoe, which refers to physical life and existence as opposed to death.

So an abundant life is one that is superior. It's a life that exceeds expectation. It is extraordinary. And this life is found in and through Jesus! Oh, how much I desire to constantly and consistently live the abundant life Jesus promised.

Even today, as a seemingly mature Christian women's ministry leader, I sometimes find myself going through life tired, hurried and often void of the "extraordinary." Oh, I'm living, breathing, doing and going, but as I write this I realize I've slipped back into what I call the "hurried and heavy" rather than the"exceeding abundant." 

How did I (we) get from "exceeding abundant" to"hurried and heavy?" The first part of John 10:10 gives us a clue.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ...

First of all, let's clarify who the "thief" is. For the longest time I assumed the thief in this passage 

was Satan. Well, he certainly is a thief who desires 

to steal, kill and destroy (see 1 Peter 5:8, John 8:44). However, upon closer examination of the passage in its context, you will see that the thieves to which Jesus refers are the false teachers who came before Him claiming His authority. (Read all of John chapters 9-10 for context.) Unlike Jesus who was prepared to die for His sheep in order to give them life, the thieves' intentions were to steal, kill and destroy.

• Steal - kleptō - to commit a theft, to take away by theft, take away by stealth

• Kill - thyō - to sacrifice, immolate, to slay, slaughter

• Destroy - apollymi - to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin render useless, to kill, to declare that one must be put to death, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed

Jesus was the protector of His sheep. He wanted to heal His sheep that were injured. He purposed to keep His sheep safe and to give them a high quality of life - the abundant life, in fact. The "thief," unlike the Shepherd, was selfish and self-seeking. Jesus healed a blind man in chapter 9 and the "thieves" cast the man out of the synagogue. So rather than welcoming him in and celebrating his restored health, they sought to steal his joy and kill his wonderful testimony of how Jesus made his life extraordinary.

Let's apply this passage to our daily lives for a moment. When we accept the Good Shepherd, Jesus, we receive life, and the more Jesus we experience the greater that quality of life becomes. However, the world we live in is tainted with sin and we are exposed to the "thief" at every turn just as the sheep in this passage. We can't leave Satan out of the equation because he too has a plan to take away our life. His plan is to slay the life offered to us through Jesus. He wants to put an end to, ruin and render useless the life God has for us just like the other thieves in this passage.

Take a moment and think of some thieves (false teachers, things that seem to offer life but really steal life from you, people or things that take rather than give life) that attempt to put an end to, ruin and render useless the life God has for you.

Here are a few that come to mind:

• TV
• "Things," money, the better life
• Knowledge
• Job
• Food, drink
• Busyness
• Technology

Honestly, the list could go on and on! Even though many of the things on our lists are not "bad," they can steal, kill and destroy if we're not careful.

There's another problem as well. Sometimes the "thief" doesn't steal the abundant life from me. Often I choose to forsake the things it takes to live the abundant life. You heard me right; I (and you) choose to forsake the abundant life. Yes, Jesus offers us life at no cost, but it's not without some active participation on our part. And sometimes, I simply make choices and rob myself of the extraordinary life the Good Shepherd has for me.

We're going to explore that more over the next few weeks, but until then think about these questions:

• Are you often tired, wearied or burdened?
• Do you think, "there's got to be more to life than this?"
• Are you living the abundant life, or are you simply going through the motions devoid of real joy and stressed?
• Would you currently characterize your life as "hurried and heavy" or "exceeding abundant"? Why?
• What can you begin doing TODAY to experience abundant life?
  • Accept Jesus - Follow this 
    

    link to learn how
  • Read and meditate on God's Word Romans 12:2
  • Pray, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 51:10

In this series we are going to S.L.O.W. down and consider five steps you can take to move from ordinary to extraordinary.

Jesus came to "shepherd" us through life. He desires to take care of us, give us green pastures, restore us and lead us. Does that sound familiar? Take some time this week to read Psalm 23 and find some rest for your soul!

   

Jacqueline C. Heider 

Director of Discipleship & Women's Ministry