John 10:14-16, Galatians 3:7-14, Luke 11:15-26, Psalm 111:5

John 10:14-16

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father. Because of this I give my life for my sheep.16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock since there is one Shepherd.

Beloved, You remind me that You are our Good Shepherd. You know each of Your sheep by name. You know me. You know my faults and weaknesses and You help me overcome them. You feed me with Your Body and Blood so I can be strong and overcome temptation. You also tell me that several sheep have strayed from the fold and I must pray in order that they too may return. This must be my witness, the sheep who have strayed must look and see how well-fed and happy I am because the Good Shepherd cares so beautifully for me, and this should stir a longing in them too, to return home like the prodigal son.

Galatians 3:7-14

7 Understand then that those who follow the way of faith are sons and daughters of Abraham. 8 The Scriptures foresaw that by the way of faith, God would give true righteousness to the non-Jewish nations. For God’s promise to Abraham was this: In you shall all the nations be blessed. 9 So now those who take the way of faith receive the same blessing as Abraham who believed; 10 but those who rely on the practice of the Law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not always fulfill everything written in the Law. 11 It is plainly written that no one becomes righteous, in God’s way, by the Law: by faith the righteous shall live. 12 Yet the Law gives no place to faith, for according to it: the one who fulfills the commandments shall have life through them. 13 Now Christ rescued us from the curse of the Law by becoming cursed himself for our sake, as it is written: there is a curse on everyone who is hanged on a tree. 14 So the blessing granted to Abraham reached the pagan nations in and with Christ, and we received the promised Spirit through faith.

I am a child of God by faith. All nations are saved and blessed by this same faith that Jesus, the Son of God, rescued us from eternal death by taking on Himself the curse that lay upon us. So what was promised to Abraham in the Old Covenant, reaches out to us who were outside the Covenant and in You and with You, we have received the promised Holy Spirit without whom we would not even be able to utter that You are Lord.

Luke 11:15-26 15 Yet some of them said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” 16 So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him for a heavenly sign.17 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. 18 If Satan also is divided, his em­pire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Bee­lze­bul? 19 If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your fellow mem­bers drive out demons? They will be your judge, then.20 But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? 21 As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. 22 But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils. • 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.• 24 When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. 26 Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Beloved, help me remember

that I am a worker in Your vineyard and it is important that I give faithful witness that I work with You and for You. May I always stand firmly for You even when it means standing against the culture of the world.

Psalm 111:5

5 Always mindful of his covenant,

he provides food for those who fear him.

You are always aware of Your Covenant of love with me and even if I should forget or turn away, You will do all You can to bring me back into the shelter of Your embrace. You are an awesome God!!!