Hi there my dear
I remember meeting my nemesis, equations, in high school. I’d met and overcome them before, but the newfangled X and Y and Ns; especially in quadratics left me very unhappy. I think I just glazed over and mentally left the room. Sentence equations weren’t too bad, but even then … I’d made an error or two. For you equation lovers, please consider today’s Holy Nougat
“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.” John 10:16 NIV
Who do you think those ‘other sheep’ are? Is it something you ever thought about? I have; time and time again. But as I read this recently, my long-standing theory vanished. I wondered whether Jesus was referring to us Gentile sheep. It was a new thought for me, because all along when I read this, I Knew Jesus was talking about those other people. You know … them out there, not us who are clearly ‘saved’.
To you, that view may seem arrogant and utterly preposterous; but I am/was secure in my ‘saved-ness’. So much so, that I forgot an important thing – although there were several Gentiles who contributed To the Redemption Plan; at the time Jesus spoke, God’s plan for us had not been revealed. We were the ‘x’ (ie the unknown) in God’s equation.
Having said that, I note that Jesus has got plans for us. Oh yes indeedy! Firstly, He brings us into the fold (by whatever means necessary). Our ‘proof’ of ownership (Jesus’ brand on us) comes with us (recognizing and) listening to the voice of Jesus, and obeying Him. [Are we hearing and heeding Jesus’ voice?]
It is also noteworthy that Jesus then speaks of One Sheep fold; not Two or Twenty-four or even More. For if we are sharing the same fold as the Jews; whom one would think ought to have their own fold (being the consecrated ones); Why on earth, or in Heaven, would we have our own private fold as Gentiles?!
It doesn’t really add up. We truly have nothing that makes us intrinsically better or worse than another believer. Not one thing! We might manifest different gifts of God’s Spirit; but we’re all in One Fold. We might even invest years (decades or more) into theological education; it’s still One Fold. We might also have ‘scraped in’ on a deathbed-death’s door confession – I tell you my dears, it’s still gonna be the very same Fold.
No room for exclusionism.
No space for denominationalism.
No air for good self-righteousness; no.
Not even a drop for country-club elitism.
Only grace.
God’s grace through faith.
That’s part of what we ought to hear when we accept His invitation.
Now that I got that straight (for I suspect that you figured out the gospel equation all along), it’s time to listen. That’s the call for each of us, once we’ve entered the Fold, to listen and obey.
What is God saying to us now?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
