A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY by Given O. Blakely Feeding The Sheep Thoughts on the premier activity in the Kingdom of God--the "great commission." Every spiritual gift, including evangelists, pastors and teachers, is given to the church! There is no more noble work than administering food to the people of God! The entire Bible was written to them! The Intercessor is for them! The Holy Spirit is given to them! The promises of God are for them! When taken seriously, nourishing God's people brings God's blessing. The personal proof that we have passed from death to life is that we love our brothers in Christ (1 John 3:14). Jesus said "Feed My lambs . . . Feed My sheep . . . Feed My sheep" (John 21:15-17). What did He mean? How serious was He? How is it accomplished? When, following His resurrection, Jesus confronted Peter, He questioned him concerning his love. His response to Peter's affirmation was NOT, "Testify to the world"--although that would be done. Rather, He was to nourish the people of God! Previously, Jesus told Peter to "strengthen your brothers," after he HAD "turned back" (Luke 22:32). The exclusive ministry of Jesus is toward the saints (Heb. 7:25). The Holy Spirit only dwells within them (1 John 4:13). The holy angels are even their ministers (Heb. 1:14). There can be no doubt about the absolute priority of feeding the people of God! Feeding the sheep is giving them the advantage in the fight of faith. The food consists of the foundations of the faith--not the details. Their vision must be drawn to "unseen things," else they will not be able to survive. They are living in a condemned realm (2 Pet. 3:10-12). The food you give them will orient them for the "world to come" (Heb. 2:5). This lesson will be an example of feeding the sheep- -what it is, and what it does. The Head of Christ is God! The premier Person in the Bible is God the Father! He is, in the word's of Scripture, "the Head of Christ"--a staggering consideration (1 Cor. 11:3). Jesus is HIS Christ and HIS Lamb (Acts 4:26; John 1:29). In the "end," Jesus Himself "will be made subject" to the Father, Who put everything under Him (1 Cor. 15:27-28). Never forget: the Lord Jesus is the "Way" to the Father (John 14:6). Through Him we have "access to the Father" (Eph. 2:18). God is the One from Whom we fell. He sent the Son, and the Son is sitting at His right hand. The Lord Jesus is bringing us to Him (1 Pet. 3:18). God the Father is reason for Jesus the Son! He sent His Son (1 John 4:14), sustained Him while in this world, laid the iniquity of the world upon Him (Isa. 53:6), raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9), and exalted Him above every name (Phil. 2:9)! The Father is the "Husbandman," or owner of the Vine and branches (John 15:1). The church is His flock (1 Pet. 5:2), and His "heritage," entrusted to faithful leaders (1 Pet. 5:3). Seven times, the church is called "the church of God" (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13). When you acquaint believers with their God, you are feeding them. They are "heirs of God"--i.e., He is what they will inherit (Rom. 8:17). What is more, they are what He is going to inherit, and their understanding can be opened to see it (Eph. 1:18). Jesus has come to give us an understanding of God--which is nothing less than "eternal life" (1 John 5:20; John 17:3). To be deficient in this area is to be spiritually malnourished--it makes little difference what else may be known or achieved. In light of God, everything else is understood. Known Through His Purpose God can be best understood by discerning His purpose--what He is doing! That will acquaint us with His Person. It will also assure us that He has an intense personal interest in us. God has revealed His gracious intent numerous times. Each revelation provides a different facet of the jewel of Divine purpose or objective. It is important to note that God's "purpose" is an "eternal" one (Eph. 3:11). It is a part of His nature, and therefore an expression of His Person. His purpose is not a reaction, but an expression. It is the ultimate revelation of what He is really like. Man to Have Dominion Man was not made to be a vassal, but a co-regent, having dominion over everything God made (Gen, 1:26,28; Heb. 2:5-8). Men are slated to judge the world and angels (1 Cor. 6:1-2), and even have "authority over the nations" (Rev. 2:26). Frustrate the Devil God could not keep it quiet! He announced what He was going to do to the devil, and did it with the whole human race present (Gen. 3:15). Bless the World As time progressed, God elaborated on His purpose to Abraham. He was not only going to frustrate the devil, but bless man as well (Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18). Unite Everything in Christ Sin brought division, disruption, and chaos. God's purpose is to bring things together in the Son (Eph. 1:9-10). Ultimate harmony has been determined, and will be achieved in the Son. Even nature is included in the purpose (Rom. 8:21-23). Show Heavenly Intelligence His Wisdom The purpose of God extends beyond the confines of this world. He is displaying His marvelous and multifaceted wisdom to heavenly personalities (Eph. 3:10-11). How He Will Do It God has graciously revealed HOW He will fulfill His purpose. The details are concise and powerful. Once you hear them, you will at once know they can only be achieved by God, through Christ, and in the Spirit. I have chosen to focus on the expression found in Romans 8:29-30. Divine Foreknowledge God is motivated by His own purpose. His "foreknowledge" has to do with His determination. It is more than a mere survey, or advance knowledge (Acts 2:23; 1 Pet. 1:2). What God saw was the inclination of the heart--not what men would DO, but how they were inclined. Predestination God's determinations are wrought without compromising His own character or violating our volition. He has determined believers will be like His Son. There is no way one can remain in Christ and this NOT happen! (1 John 3:1-3; 2 Tim. 1:9). Calling Divine choice was not implemented arbitrarily. He appealed to humanity to make a choice--He "called" them. That call comes through the Gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). It is a summons to be "holy" (Rom. 1:7). This is a view of God "drawing" people to Himself (John 6:44). It assumes that God is basically compelling. Seen correctly, men will come to Him (John 12:32)! Justification God cannot countenance sin. Either sin goes, or the sinner will be damned! Justification has do to with the removal of sin--both its guilt and its power (Acts 13:39). This is being made "righteous," and is announced in the Gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). This righteousness is credited, or imputed, to us upon the basis of our faith in Christ (Rom. 3:28; 5:1; Gal. 3:24). Jesus removed sin (Heb. 9:26)--it is the work of faith to believe that, and appropriate God's righteousness! Justification puts the individual in a position where God will not credit sin to him (Rom. 4:6-8). Glorification Glorification is the culmination of our salvation. It is when the project is complete and our real work begins. This is when the righteous will "shine like the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is when we "shall be like Him" (1 John 3:1-3). It is when God will change our vile body, conforming it to Christ's body (Phil. 3:20). Glorification is when we will "know as we are known" (1 Cor. 13:12). This is when we will become "pillars" in the temple of God, and will never go "out" again (Rev. 3:12). Be "confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1:6). He only requires your consent to do it--and why would you withhold it? FEED MY SHEEP! Feeding God's flock is joining with the Lord in His agenda; working together with Him (1 Cor. 3:9). If what you do obscures or detracts from His purpose, you are in jeopardy! Your function is to clarify God and what He is doing. You are not a reformer, but a proclaimer. You are not an enforcer, but a leader. Get under the yoke with Jesus, and He will make you equal to your stewardship! Do not major on things that will make your ministry obsolete in the world to come! Target heaven being an expansion of your work, not a cessation of it! The Lord will strengthen you for His work. In the grip of a Living Hope, Given O. Blakely