The Shepherd
Dear Champions,
The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the scripture is John 10:11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
God works through people that the world thinks are failures. The ultimate example of God's working in the world is from the only founder of a major religion who died in disgrace. He was not surrounded by His loving disciples but abandoned by everybody including His Father. Jesus Christ's salvation is a salvation that came through defeat, poverty, and rejection.
God is a shepherd. If He was just a king, His salvation would be, "Here's the law! Do it and you will live!" Because He was a shepherd, He's got to come and fulfill everything for us. He does it by sending Jesus Christ to live the life that we should have lived and die the death that we should have died and take the penalty for our sins. The salvation of the world had to come into the world in weakness and defeat. In every other religion it says, "Pull yourself together and be strong!" Then say, "God, accept me because of what I've done." But the gospel is to admit that you are not together and that you are weak. You have to say, "God, you're going to have to relate to me because of what Jesus has done."
The gospel message is that you are more sinful and evil and weak than you ever dared believe, but you are more valued and accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining
Posts
