The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” – John 10:10-11, 27-28a
The enemy of your soul doesn’t care about you. His only interest in you is as a victim. He wants to “steal and kill and destroy,” and the primary way he attempts to do this is by leading you astray. This is how he does it: by making sin look attractive and obedience seem restrictive. Deception, doubt, desire, disobedience and death … that’s his 5-step plan for us all. He wants you and me to believe that sin isn’t sin, that sin is worth it, that sin is better for us, that sin isn’t that serious and that sin won’t cost too much. The enemy doesn’t care about you; but Jesus does. One of the ways that Jesus shows He cares about us and gives His care to us is by establishing boundaries for us from God’s Word. So many people see His commandments as “restrictive rules” that are keeping the good stuff out of our lives instead of seeing them as “gracious guardrails” that are keeping our lives out of the gutter. He is our Good Shepherd Who protects us, provides for us, empowers us, refreshes us, delights us, guides us and delivers us safely to our eternal home in heaven. How? We hear His voice (the words of the Bible, the message of the gospel, the commands of the law, the plans of the Father, the counsel of the Holy Spirit) calling us into His care, and do as He says. He leads. We follow. That’s it. He takes care of us by taking care of all the rest. And if we are His sheep, we can be assured that when we do go astray, He will come after us with fierce love and unstoppable power to bring us back. He convicts us of our sin, corrects us in grace, and calls us back to abundant life in Him. Today, you will hear the convincing lies of the enemy inviting you to go astray and you will hear the sweet voice of Jesus calling you to follow Him in faith. Who will you believe knows best, offers what is best and is after your best? The one who wants only to steal and kill and destroy? Or the One who loves you enough to lay down His life for you?
