Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
August 17, 2017
John 10:27-30
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”
New International Version (NIV)
               An olive wood carving of a Shepherd adorns my desk reminding me of my work.  The artist’s rendering shows Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders.  Have you ever noticed how many of God’s servants were shepherds.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, David and Amos were all shepherds.  No wonder Jesus imaged his ministry this way.  In contrast with the robbers who came to steal kill and destroy, Jesus came to give life as the good shepherd who laid down his life. 
                The religious leaders of his day demanded more information, “Tell us plainly if you are the Christ.”  Jesus said, “You don’t know me because you are not in the flock.”  Christians come to know Christ’s voice and follow him.  In turn, he and the Father personally secure our salvation.  It turns out that Christ’s followers are not only in Jesus’ hand but also in the hand of the Father.  No one will snatch us out of Jesus’ hand.  No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand.  But when he claimed to be one with the Father, they picked up stones to kill him.
                Shepherds don’t seem dangerous at all.  Who would throw rocks at a shepherd?  Not the sheep.  Watch the way people relate to Jesus and you will know about where they stand with God.  N. T. Wright said if he could speak on his deathbed  to his children, he would say, “Look at Jesus.  He is always a surprise. We never have Jesus in our pockets. He is always coming at us from different angles … If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus. If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus. And go on looking until you're not just a spectator, but part of the drama that has him as the central character.”  
Pray with me:
Father, forgive us for thinking we have you “in our pockets.”  Thank you for keeping us safe in your hand and in the nail-pierced hand of your perfect Son.  Let us live in the assurance that you know us and give us eternal life.  We want to know you more.  The greatest thing in our whole lives is loving you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
I want to invite you to join me in memorizing 52 passages this year from the 2017 set of Fighter Verses.  You can find the Fighter Verses App at the App Store on your phones or via this link  http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/fighter-verses/.  As we study the Bible this year, let's look at each text and learn what it says about God. 
Joyfully, 
Duane 
About Duane Archives
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
555 Tallowood Road
Houston, TX | 77024 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.