One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time

(John 10:1-10)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

November 24^th, 2024

Something to think about:

Today, in 2024, many people in our world struggle to live life with purpose and meaning.   Life, for many, seems more meaningless now than it did then.  The only real meaning, the only true meaning to life, is found in a life fully surrendered to Jesus Christ.

As we close out our series on the spiritual disciplines of Solitude and Silence today, we must remember the importance of not drifting through life aimlessly, but rather living every day with purpose and meaning in the ebb and flow of spending time alone with GOD and living in community with others.

Jesus addresses this kind of life in the Gospel of John.  After having healed a man who was blind from birth, and now having to contend with the stubborn religious leaders who were questioning that man’s healing, Jesus accuses them of spiritual blindness.  What ensues in a parable of sorts about Jesus’ ability to give true, abundant life…

John 10:1-10 (NLT),

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!  ² But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  ⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.  ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

⁶ Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, ⁷ so he explained it to them:  “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  ⁸ All who came before me were thieves and robbers.  But the true sheep did not listen to them.  ⁹ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.  ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Key Point:  “A life tuned to the voice of GOD and continually heeding His Word is truly an abundant life.”

What does Jesus teach us about the way to abundant life?  Let’s take a look:

• The sheep know the  of the shepherd’s  .

John 10:3 (NLT),  “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

• The sheep  the shepherd wherever he  .

John 10:4 (NLT),  “⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.  ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

• The sheep who live  and  lives continue to follow the  .

John 10:10 (NLT),  “ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Something to take home:

Do you know the sound of the Shepherd’s voice?  Do you follow Him wherever He leads?  Would you say you are living a rich and abundant life?

Being a follower of Christ is not always easy, but it can be full and rich in spite of what life may throw at us.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves and cares for His sheep.  He gives them everything they need and keeps them from the enemy’s snare.  He provides them with nourishment that this world knows nothing of, and supplies them with mercy, forgiveness, and grace beyond measure.  Abundant life is not a condition of one's circumstances, but one's eternal destination.  And if we’re following the Good Shepherd and learning to heed His still small voice in a world full of voices, then life can truly be full and blessed.

Key Point:  “A life tuned to the voice of GOD and continually heeding His Word is truly an abundant life.”