How He loves us

 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:27-29 ESV

                There is a certainty in salvation. How can God fail? God is greater than all, by definition, and by revelation, so failure is well and truly impossible with His purposes. His purpose here is very definite, to give his flock security in love of God and in salvation. We find here two aspects of the divine love both contributing to our sure sense of security.

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep. As we learn in Psalm 139, and elsewhere, this is not causal knowledge but a truly intimate understanding of each and every one of the sheep in His flock. It is a particular love He bears towards them in calling them and knowing them and holding them in security for glory. He knows them, and loves them.  It is you He calls, and you He loves; you yourself. For as Paul says it was by grace you were saved through and not of yourself, not by works: Ephesians 2:8-9. It is you He called and you He loved, it’s not the things you do. But it is you He has called. He does not call you as a generic drone anymore than He calls you by your own merit. Rather He calls you by His own merit, as a unique creation.

                At the same time, He calls you to follow, and in following to work, and in working to be made holy. He loves you too much to leave you where you are, as you are. He wants you to be better, the best possible you. And this purpose of His for redemption, perfection is assured by His sovereign might. The sheep do indeed follow their Shepherd, and none may ultimately abscond with them. He loves you too much to let you go and be diminished. For romans 8:28 must stand that all things work to the good for those who serve the Lord. And so even as the psalmist finds himself fearfully and wonderfully made, he concludes by asking for sanctification to be led along the path everlasting. The point of the verse is security for those who believe, but security is meant to encourage and facilitate the following.

                This is how God so loved the world, with a love that demanded and brought about and will bring in fullness a better world. G. K. Chesterton is right in pointing out that we must love in this way to bring about the betterment of any place, or by extension anything. But our motivation is more than pragmatic, for we are to love as Christ loves. So, then we must love what is, and we must hate what is. We must love the true essence, and hate all that detracts from it. Above all we must love the Shepherd who calls us where we are to go on to someplace infinitely better. The Shepherd who loves us enough to do all that is necessary to make us what we ought to be.  And we must always remember in every case we look to Jesus first and last to bring about the greatest good.

Prayer

                Father we were all wandering sheep, making our way blindly towards destruction; but into our darkness came the Light to shepherd us away from death and towards life everlasting. Let us follow our Lord gladly through every trial, and tribulation knowing they are meant to make us more ourselves in You. You need none of us, but You love each one of us. You love us too much to let us go, or to leave us unperfected. Lord as you have so loved the world let us rightly reflect this love that makes change possible, and that change for the better. We ask these things for the sake of Your glory. In the name of the Good Shepherd. Amen.

Songs

All I have is Christ

I was a wandering sheep

Love divine all loves excelling

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