IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
Matthew 25:
33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
Ever wonder why Jesus said goats on the left? Often we hear sermons comparing Christians to Sheep because it is such an effective comparison. I found the following information at a Blog entitled Church Growth; its URL address is http://churchgrowth1.blogspot.com/2007/10/good-shepherd-and-his-sheep.HTML Unlike goats, casual observation reveals that sheep seem to need each other. The flock, their “community,” is their identity. Not only do sheep need each other, they also need a shepherd they can depend on. … The shepherd is the main-stay in the sheep’s lives. Without his attention and care they would quickly find themselves in trouble.
Accurate description of us, wouldn’t you say? But my question was ever wonder why Jesus said goats on the left. Clearly from Scripture, the ‘goats’ are lost and will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The above referenced Writer, identified only as KC, also wrote: Goats don’t need a shepherd to watch out for them; they are independent to the point of being “head-strong”.
That explains it! The nature of a goat is independent, head strong, ‘do it my way’. And Lost Souls are those who have failed and/or refused to admit their independence, head strong, ‘do it my way’ is sin. And remaining in that unrepentant state keeps them on the left. The ‘goats’ of this world need a NEW NATURE, the nature of a sheep and they can have that new nature ONLY by submitting to THE GOOD SHEPHERD – JESUS THE CHRIST. Failure to do so keeps them on the ‘left’ of God. I’d say that’s the worst of all places to be, wouldn’t you?
But wait I’m not a ‘goat’ and you’re not a ‘goat’, right? We are sheep. We know we are sheep. We are the sheep of His Pasture and He is our Shepherd. Of that we are sure (I hope you all are sure – if you are not; you need to get that way!)
So in Christ Jesus we are new creations, not goats any longer but now sheep.
2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
HOWEVER, I have noticed we sheep are prone to revert to the ways of a goat. So what’s that about? Paul described it this way in Romans 7:
15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].
19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
24 O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?
25 O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
So the next time that wonderful spouse or son or daughter starts ‘butting heads’ with you, one or both of you is acting like a GOAT. Submitting our minds and hearts to our Shepherd will keep us sheep acting like the sheep we are rather than the goats we used to be.
Hmmm … The terms ‘goat’, ‘goat-head’, etc. Just took on deeper meaning. No wonder Ethel frequently called Fred an ‘old goat’.
Abba, thank You for changing me from a goat to a sheep; however, I am still immature enough that I often act like a goat – head strong and tree butting – thank You for Your moment by moment forgiveness. And thank You too that day by day You are leading and teaching us better; teaching us to be better sheep, mature sheep who nourish the lambs and comfort and warm others. You are so AWESOME and we are delighted and grateful for what You are doing with us. Thank You. We gratefully invite You to keep it up.
We come now with these listed here, praying for their needs of today to be met in You; praying for their comfort, strength, growth, maturity, healing and restoring with knowledge and wisdom and determined choice and will to receive more and more of Your Love so we can more and more love others. And we pray for our IDOK Troops for their safety and protection, for their health and wellbeing in mind and body and spirit. We pray for them all to come home more in love with You than when they deployed. And Lord we have not tired of praying for Israel for Her Peace and for America to continue to support Her and for America to repent. Abba, have mercy of the goats of America; get their attention, point out to them who they are and where is their destiny unless they repent. Forgive us for the unholy laws and practices going on here now. Your Love and Justice rained fire on Sodom and Gomorrah; I know You are grieved with the sins of the world and we have earned Your wrath and I know it is coming. Thank You for Redemption, thank You that no soul receives Your wrath unless they choose it. Holy Spirit please pour out conviction and convince people to choose Your Life, Your Salvation instead of death and hell. Thank You for every soul who has been born again and I pray for all of us all over this world, asking for grace to grow; asking for a growth spurt in us. Abba, help us humble ourselves so You don’t have to. Thank You for Your Favor and Blessing that we are receiving today in Jesus Name. Amen and amen. Malpas Family. Kevin M and Family. Darlene. Rachel. Allison. Kinard Family. Alla Mae. W C and family. Richard and Emma and family. Oprah. Chris B. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Odessa H. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Tonya and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Pattie S. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance and Baby. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.Travis N. Hawk. Lyndon A.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 72°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 6:22 AM AST – on May 30, 2008
33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
Ever wonder why Jesus said goats on the left? Often we hear sermons comparing Christians to Sheep because it is such an effective comparison. I found the following information at a Blog entitled Church Growth; its URL address is http://churchgrowth1.blogspot.com/2007/10/good-shepherd-and-his-sheep.HTML Unlike goats, casual observation reveals that sheep seem to need each other. The flock, their “community,” is their identity. Not only do sheep need each other, they also need a shepherd they can depend on. … The shepherd is the main-stay in the sheep’s lives. Without his attention and care they would quickly find themselves in trouble.
Accurate description of us, wouldn’t you say? But my question was ever wonder why Jesus said goats on the left. Clearly from Scripture, the ‘goats’ are lost and will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The above referenced Writer, identified only as KC, also wrote: Goats don’t need a shepherd to watch out for them; they are independent to the point of being “head-strong”.
That explains it! The nature of a goat is independent, head strong, ‘do it my way’. And Lost Souls are those who have failed and/or refused to admit their independence, head strong, ‘do it my way’ is sin. And remaining in that unrepentant state keeps them on the left. The ‘goats’ of this world need a NEW NATURE, the nature of a sheep and they can have that new nature ONLY by submitting to THE GOOD SHEPHERD – JESUS THE CHRIST. Failure to do so keeps them on the ‘left’ of God. I’d say that’s the worst of all places to be, wouldn’t you?
But wait I’m not a ‘goat’ and you’re not a ‘goat’, right? We are sheep. We know we are sheep. We are the sheep of His Pasture and He is our Shepherd. Of that we are sure (I hope you all are sure – if you are not; you need to get that way!)
So in Christ Jesus we are new creations, not goats any longer but now sheep.
2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
HOWEVER, I have noticed we sheep are prone to revert to the ways of a goat. So what’s that about? Paul described it this way in Romans 7:
15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].
19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
24 O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?
25 O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
So the next time that wonderful spouse or son or daughter starts ‘butting heads’ with you, one or both of you is acting like a GOAT. Submitting our minds and hearts to our Shepherd will keep us sheep acting like the sheep we are rather than the goats we used to be.
Hmmm … The terms ‘goat’, ‘goat-head’, etc. Just took on deeper meaning. No wonder Ethel frequently called Fred an ‘old goat’.
Abba, thank You for changing me from a goat to a sheep; however, I am still immature enough that I often act like a goat – head strong and tree butting – thank You for Your moment by moment forgiveness. And thank You too that day by day You are leading and teaching us better; teaching us to be better sheep, mature sheep who nourish the lambs and comfort and warm others. You are so AWESOME and we are delighted and grateful for what You are doing with us. Thank You. We gratefully invite You to keep it up.
We come now with these listed here, praying for their needs of today to be met in You; praying for their comfort, strength, growth, maturity, healing and restoring with knowledge and wisdom and determined choice and will to receive more and more of Your Love so we can more and more love others. And we pray for our IDOK Troops for their safety and protection, for their health and wellbeing in mind and body and spirit. We pray for them all to come home more in love with You than when they deployed. And Lord we have not tired of praying for Israel for Her Peace and for America to continue to support Her and for America to repent. Abba, have mercy of the goats of America; get their attention, point out to them who they are and where is their destiny unless they repent. Forgive us for the unholy laws and practices going on here now. Your Love and Justice rained fire on Sodom and Gomorrah; I know You are grieved with the sins of the world and we have earned Your wrath and I know it is coming. Thank You for Redemption, thank You that no soul receives Your wrath unless they choose it. Holy Spirit please pour out conviction and convince people to choose Your Life, Your Salvation instead of death and hell. Thank You for every soul who has been born again and I pray for all of us all over this world, asking for grace to grow; asking for a growth spurt in us. Abba, help us humble ourselves so You don’t have to. Thank You for Your Favor and Blessing that we are receiving today in Jesus Name. Amen and amen. Malpas Family. Kevin M and Family. Darlene. Rachel. Allison. Kinard Family. Alla Mae. W C and family. Richard and Emma and family. Oprah. Chris B. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Odessa H. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Tonya and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Pattie S. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance and Baby. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.Travis N. Hawk. Lyndon A.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 72°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 6:22 AM AST – on May 30, 2008
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