Tag: Shepherd

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

God with Skin On

“At the appointed time Jesus took on flesh and became a man. He lived here amongst us and lots of folks, includin’ cowboys and cowgirls, saw His glory and it was a sight to behold. It was the glory of the Son of God. His grace and truth done shined forth ‘cause He was plumb filled up with it.” (John 1:14).

I have heard the story and perhaps you have too or at least some version of it: A small child was reluctant to go to sleep by herself one night. After several bedtime stories, her mother told her it was time to turn out the light. “But I want you to stay,” the little girl protested. “Don’t worry,” the mom said, “Jesus is here, He will be with you all night long.” To which the child replied, “But I want Jesus with skin on!”

Have you ever wished that? That you could sit down, grab a cup of coffee and have a one-on-one talk with the God of the universe? Our first parents had that opportunity. Before their disobedience, the Bible describes those intimate moments when God visited with them in the garden, where apparently they walked together and talked with each other.

But after the fall, that changed. God’s warning was that no man could see Him and live. Moses, the “friend of God,” whom God hid in the cleft of rock allowed Moses only a glimpse of His backside as He passed by.

But has God remained hidden? Can we, like the young child in the story, know God with skin on? Well, yes we can. God the Father remains unseen by human eyes. But, through His Son the Bible promises that we can know Him. You see, He did reveal Himself to us, just as the little girl wished, God with skin on, in the person of His Son, Jesus.

That is the promise fulfilled at Christmas. The angel of the Lord said that the child born of Mary would be called Immanuel, “God with us.” God, though invisible to human eyes, is nonetheless present with us indeed. Through the incarnation, “God with skin on” in the person of Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. And Jesus, the Son of God “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples on an occasion asked Jesus, “Lord show us the Father.” In other words, Philip, like many of us, wanted to see God with skin. And Jesus answered him and us with these remarkable words, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

Yes, indeed, we do know God through His Son, who came into the world clothed in human flesh to show and reveal to us God the creator and sustainer of all things.

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Forever Kept in the Father’s Hand

“Those who belong to Me hear My voice, and I know ‘em, and they come along with Me; and I give them life everlastin’ so they will never die. And for sure, nobody’s gonna take ‘em from My hand, no-sir-ee! See, My Father has done given ‘em to Me. He’s greater than all; nobody can snatch His own from His hand” John 10:27-29 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

One day, I playfully reached out and grabbed my 12-year-old daughter when she was walking by, pulled her up close to me and said, “I got you!” “Now what do you want me to do?” She said, “Don’t ever let me go!” I choked out the words, “I never will! I promise!”

That is very much what we hear our Lord saying. In our text, John describes  Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” who knows His sheep, those who belong to Him. And as the “Good Shepherd,” Jesus promises to watch over and keep His sheep safe now and throughout eternity, never to let go of those who belong to Him.

And to further emphasize His keeping strength, He tells us that it is His Continue reading “Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style””

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style

The Shepherd’s Voice

“And when he’s gathered up all his own sheep, he walks ahead of them and they follow him ‘cause they know his voice. The sheep won’t follow a stranger. No-sir-ee, they will all run off from him ‘cause they don’t know his voice” John 10:4-5 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

A number of years ago, I took a summer job with a dairy farmer to help pay some` expenses incurred while attending seminary. First day on the job, the dairy farmer introduced me, by name, to all 98-head of Holstein milk cows. They all looked remarkably the same to me. But after milking them for a while, not only did they start looking different, each, I discovered had her own unique personality.  Actually, I changed their names to match the personalities of the church members where I was serving as pastor.

Each evening at milking-time, the owner would call out to the grazing cows, and they would make their way to the milk barn. No problem! He would call and they would come. They knew his voice.

About mid-way through the summer, the dairy farmer and his family took a week-end vacation and left the milking operation to me. That first day, when it was time for the evening milking, I cupped my hands around my mouth and called out to the cattle just like Glen, the dairy farmer did. A few began to meander toward the barn, but most stood stock-still and just looked at me. I was a stranger and they did not recognize my voice!

I finally had to saddle a horse, ride down to the pasture and push the milk cows to the barn. I repeated the same procedure every day until their owner returned. He called; they came! Why? Because they knew his voice!!

You see, that is what Jesus is saying. Those who belong to Jesus know His voice and they will follow Him.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

They Know His Voice

“They know His voice . . . A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4b-5

One summer when still a student in seminary, I was serving as pastor of  a little country church in Central Texas. To help pay off some bills and upcoming tuition for the fall semester, I hired out to a dairy farmer. I knew something about beef cattle, but very little about dairy cattle. So the summer became quite a learning experience.

One of those lessons came early on. The first time I attempted on my own to ‘call’ up the cattle, they just stood and looked at me. On the other hand,when Glen, the cows owner ‘called’ there was no hesitation. They Continue reading “They Know His Voice”