April 15, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- DANGER FROM THE STRANGER
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
DANGER FROM THE STRANGER
Read: John 10:1-16
[1]Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.[2]But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.[3]To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.[4]And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.[5]And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.[6]This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.[7]Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.[8]All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.[9]I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.[10]The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.[11]I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.[12]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.[13]The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.[14]I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.[15]As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.[16]And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
MEMORISE: A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:5)
EXPOSITION
Kids are always warned to keep away from strangers. The reason for this is clear: strangers are unknown, unfamiliar, and therefore, their intention are unpredictable. When a child sees a stranger, is he/she immediately opens to him/her? This is so, because a stranger is a stranger; no more, no less. We have so many examples of bad experience of people who had been into trouble, because of accomdating strangers. Example abound of cities and other communities that have been taken over by strangers they benevolently accommodated in the first place.
The Holy Ghost is ministering through this platform to users to be very wary of Satan, the devil. The devil is very deceptive and Cunny. In fact, he has been a thief and stranger to man from the beginning (Jn. 10:10). Jesus unequivocally says that His sheep would not follow strange person, because the sheep recognise His voice. No matter how the devil clones his voice (cf. 1 Jn. 4:6) to sound like Jesus Christ’s, he is not the Lord (Phil. 2:10-12). Unfortunately, many people cannot differentiate between the stranger and the Lord; they lack the grace of spiritual discernment and sensitivity! This is why many are swindled, spiritually. The stranger has nothing in stock, expect to blindfold, steal, kill and destroy his victims. So, the stranger (devil and his agents) has got nothing to offer you.
You are enabled by the Holy Spirit never to accommodate this stranger in whatever form he presents himself. If you assist him instead of resisting him, he will gain upper hand, and before you know it, a lot of damages might have been done (Eph. 4:27; Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:9). The stranger is not only dangerous but also very deadly, because he never wanted, and still predetermined end (Rev. 20:10): he doesn’t want to be there alone. Desist from following the stranger, henceforth. Follow Jesus, alone!
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, help me to always avoid the devil and all He represents.
2. O God, give me the grace to always identify every manifestion of the devil, no matter how cunny he hides them.
3. O God, give our leaders the grace to be above the devil always in the discharge if their duties to Your people.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Judges 7-8 & Acts 18