“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”
– Tim Keller
Yesterday’s Readings: John 7-8
Today’s: John 9:1-10:21
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
Jesus speaking in John 10:11-18
Matthew 18.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nie on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”
– Matthew 18:12-14
Day 2/294: Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62
Fun fact – there are only 71 days left of this year.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. bUt if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
-xMark 9:21-24
So I’ve decided to finish what I started. It’s been a while, but as it turns out I left off my readings mid october, a year ago. This is the perfect time to start back up.
Oct 20th: Matthew 16, Mark 8 and Luke 9:18-27
“For I know the plan I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
A Day in the Life 