TEXT: JOHN 10:11-12
''I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.''
The Christian man is admonished to die everyday,---to himself, and for others: herein consists his inner virtues and his faithfulness to the teaching of his Lord, Christ Jesus: (1 Corinthians 15:31b). The sole reason for which Christ calls Himself 'The good shepherd' is that He gives His life up for the sheep: this He does because the sheep are His,---He is under a solemn sense of duty for their welfare. Christians, look up and see the whole drove, called the Church of Christ; behold the individual sheep; they are all Christ's, for which He poured His life, yes, and ever lives in pouring it out in constant intercession until the church wakes up in His likeness. All in Him are called upon to share in this daily sacrifice for Hs little flock: true confession of the faith in Christ resolves and melts itself into a daily laying down of our lives for never-dying souls, and the fitting of them for the sky. The badge of goodness can only be put on those who elect to lay down their lives for others. He is not worthy to be called a good pastor, who hesitates and is reluctant to lay down his life for Christ's little flock. There be armada or fleet of self-acclaimed shepherds, who, in the room of letting out their blood for the sheep, rather are known and seen fleecing and milking the sheep; seething the kids and driving Christ's drove down the hill into the valley and shadow of death: these are hireling, whose are not the sheep, in that they cannot face the wolves for the church. Dearly beloved, any of Christ's, is ours: His flock is ours to lay down our lives for; we are beckoned to live and die for what is and of Christ's on this side of eternity. If we sympathize with Christ, let us go with Him in search of the one sheep that is lost until it be found, as Saul's servant went with him in search of his father's ass until it be found. Behold, did Saul not find a crown, throne and a kingdom whilst he went about his father's business and happiness? so does a saints find for himself treasure when he makes the happiness of Christ his primary concerns. Arise from thy surfeiting, and go to the cross for the ailing and wolves-haunted church; please, arise now, yes, like now, while thou canst!
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Ojoje Adeyi
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