Devo Guide - Feb. 4
John 10:22-42
John 10:22-42 NIV
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 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." Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'? If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Reflect
Imagine Jesus walking in Solomon’s Colonade, a covered walkway on the east side of the temple, teaching and preaching those who gathered there. He was followed by people who, in spite of the miracles and extensive teaching about His unique relationship with the Father, would not accept the truth that He was the promised Messiah. He had done nothing to assert political authority nor did He have any political ambitions. Instead Jesus continued to speak to the special relationship He had with the Father and to those who believed in Him using the sheep and shepherd analogy. Pastor Sharon
Apply
The relationship between the sheep and shepherd is characterized by obedience, recognition and allegiance. To what extent do these words characterize your relationship to the ‘good shepherd’? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life that you need to submit to the authority and direction of the ‘good shepherd.’
Pray
• Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. • Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. • Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Pat Fisher, Jesse Boulianne, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. • Pray for our office staff: Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth, Naomi Voss and Donna Collins. • Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Power to Change. • Pray for the Alberta Baptist Association and our Regional Minister, Jim Leverette.