GOD Morning! Sheep Test / March 19, 2017

GOD Morning!


Sheep Test


March 19, 2017






John 10:24-42


24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.”25 Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me [they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am]. 26 But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. 27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”


31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”33 The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]’?35 If He called them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undone or annulled or broken), 36 [if that is true] then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father [that is, the miracles that only God could perform], then do not believe Me. 38 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, [at least] believe the works [that I do—admit that they are the works of God], so that you may know and keep on knowing [clearly—without any doubt] that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father [that is, I am One with Him].” 39 So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp.


40 He went back again across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was true and accurate.” 42 And many there believed and confidently trusted in Him [accepting Him as Savior, and following His teaching].


I would like to take a closer look at verses 26 through 30.


“But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”


Sheep Test:


1. Do I believe Him?


Lately I have not been demonstrating that I believe Him. If I really believed, I would have a completely different attitude. I have been slacking. Mainly because of sleep issues. I am tired and lethargic a lot.


2. Am I hearing His voice?


Lately I have been crowding out His voice with distractions. Mainly because I’ve been disappointed in myself.


3. Am I listening to His voice?


Um, not so much lately. I’ve been too focused on my own short comings.


4. Am I following Him?


I have been following Him at a distance. But I have been holding back a part. I have not been fully obeying His call on my life.


The call that urges me to cling to Him. To jump up and say, “Yes, Lord!” without hesitation the second that I hear His still, small voice.


5. Could I be snatched out of His hand? Maybe. Because of my above answers.


These answers look really ugly in black and white. It’s one thing to have these thoughts running through my head, but completely different to put them out here for the world to see.


But actually the very best thing that I can do is to get my thoughts out here. The only way that I can change the direction that I am headed is to look at the ugly truth. What is the ugly truth? I have failed the sheep test.


Which brings me to the exciting part.


“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 (KJV)


“For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (AMP)


“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 (ESV)


All I have to do is repent. And turn back to my First Love. Jesus Christ. He is merciful. He will forgive.


I’m not going to worry about if I can do this. I’m not going to think about yesterday or tomorrow. I am going to focus on the here and now.


“Dear Jesus, I am coming to You with a repentant heart. I believe You understand my struggles. You created me. You know me better than I know myself. Common sense would say that I should be spiritually mature by now. As in having everything figured out for myself. As in rarely struggling anymore. As in helping others overcome challenges. But no, here I am, still stumbling. And falling. And picking myself back up. What a relief to know that You don’t judge me the way that I judge me. I would give up on me about now. I would move on to someone more worthy of my time.

My heart is overwhelmed right now, just to know that You continue to love me unconditionally after all these years of my humanness. So here we go again. Please forgive me. Please accept my humble prayer. I am a sinner, saved by grace. Thank You for Your sweet presence that I feel right now. Thank You for the sheep test. I long to be close to You. I long to be Your sheep. Not the lost sheep, but the sheep who hears Your voice the first time, every time, and runs to Your side. How I love You. In Jesus name, I pray all of this, AMEN.”