Life Capsule for Today 19th March, 2025
Theme: Jesus the I AM (4)
Memory Verse: Heb 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Topic: Jesus as the good shepherd
Today’s Reading: Joh 10:11-15
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.
Words of the Ministry:
Today we come to another metaphorical statement of Jesus, this I believe many of us many not relate with adequately as we may not be familiar with the actual imagery of the life of a shepherd and his flock, Jesus’ immediate audience understood him quite well as shepherding was a common practice in those days and their forefathers where shepherds. Following yesterday’s parable of being the door unto the sheep fold, Jesus went on to make us understand that he is not only to proper way to enjoy eternal life, but also our proper guide even as we live this life, providing adequate guidance to us all the way. In other words, in no time would we live our life as a sheep without him.
As we read through our today’s reading, we see Jesus drawing a contrast between himself as the good shepherd and hireling. On face value both him and the hireling could be called shepherd, but the distinction comes in when one begins to observe the attitude of the shepherd when an enemy or discomforting situation arises. Jesus comparing himself to a hireling said the hireling would flee leaving his sheep to the danger of ravenous wolf, the hireling runs away expecting the sheep to defend themselves, eventually the get killed, scattered and taken away by the wolf which represents the enemy. Jesus as the good shepherd on the other hand said he would rather lay his life for the sheep, he would stand against the wolf to see that each of his sheep is protected and well, this he did on the cross, he laid his life for us his sheep so that we can have eternal life and to show us an example of how we should sacrifice for others.
This is a clarion call to many that are in places of influence, as believers in your own sphere as a chief executive, teacher, pastor, trader, student, captain of industry, head of government parastatal etc are you a shepherd or an hireling, are you just there as someone hired for what he or she would gain as salary or profit or you are there to shepherd the sheep the Lord brings your way. The pharisees although outwardly were assumed to be shepherds but in reality, they were hirelings, they never cared for the sheep, the only mastered the art of milking the sheep. To many that are saved but have not been experiencing the shepherding of Jesus, check the flock you belong too, is that flock of Jesus or for a system or for a man. May the Lord grant us light.
Please keep in mind our monthly Peniel meeting coming up Sunday 30th March by 4pm.
Bible In One Year: Joshua 17-19
For further fellowship send us an email on godmanvideos@gmail.comor visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting, Word feast comes up every Wednesday by 5pm and Prayer Gym every Saturday by 7am while PENIEL comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Suite A10, Ahser Office Complex, beside Living Faith Church, Opposite Hassan Stores, Arab Road, Kubwa Abuja.