Enemy of the Sheep

Lately several friends have been going through some really tough times. The world, as it did with Job, is all too happy to line up wanting a chance to prescribe remedies. The world's "solutions" inevitably reduce to "Look at yourself and what you do closer or in a different way."

The Bible tells us to look more closely to Jesus and He will tell us what to change. He is our Shephard. We are His sheep.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:7-10 NIV

The world wants us to believe "it's all about me". Scripture says it's all about God.

Too often we forget that there is an opponent out there. An opponent we must not slander. An opponent we cannot defeat or manipulate. An opponent that is a better Bible student than we. An opponent who is more familiar with Christ than are we. And this opponent is intent "to steal and kill and destroy" our faith, our families, our lives and our witnesses... our "sheepishness"!

When we remember the opponent, worldly beliefs would have us defeat the opponent. Instead we are told to resist his schemes and seek shelter within the Shephard who has already defeated the opponent. What a relief.

Isn't that beautiful? We don't have to be masters of self-analysis or spiritual warfare ninjas. We just have to stay focused on Our Shephard.

It reminds me of an old saying, "I've never known anyone too dumb to do this task, but I've known many who were too smart." In Christ my weakness is my greatest strength.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

II Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV

Thank You Jesus!

"He who Struggles With God"

Israel.

"Yisra'el"

I've always loved that word.

The "el" part means "God" and is often used in biblical names. (Michael, Ishmael, etc.)

"Yisra" means "to contend"*. It comes from Jacob wrestling with God. I've always used the word "struggle" in this context, but "wrestle" works, too.

"Israel" means "He who Struggles with God"

I've always related to that. I am Israel.

Want to know what I think is one of the neatest testimonies to God's Grace in the Bible? It's one of the names of God. It seems so innocuous as it's normally written, but when you interpret the name it is really powerful to me.

God was often called "Lord God of Israel".

He is the "Lord God of "Those who Struggle with God"".

When we struggle with God's Will our opponent tells us that we aren't God's beloved. The deceiver whispers that while we struggle God turns away from us. And yet, by His Name, when we struggle is when He is especially Our God and Our Father! And what better demonstration of His Grace is there than that?

My Lord and My God, thank you.


_{* Interestingly, "Yisra" is also a very close cousin to the root word beneath the name "Sarah" which is translated as "Lady" or "Princess". I think I'll leave that alone because I could get myself in trouble with that one.}

"Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!"

Yesterday Amy spoke of "...having the heart of a child in the care of her loving Father as pictured in Psalm 131." After a rough night last night, I woke up sore, physically and emotionally. I turned, as I often do, to Psalm 25 and made that my prayer this morning. This is my "child's prayer" to God when I've had all the "fun" I can stand.

Today verse 22, "Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!" was particularly appropriate and heartfelt. I post this with love and send my best wishes and prayers for you, whoever may read this.

Praying for Israel,
Unclean Vessel

Psalm 25
Of David.
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!