John 10:1-18
There are many standards for living. The world offers so many varieties and the secular world tries desperately to convince you that theirs is correct, separating you from your money at the same time. Still there are others that focus more on God for their rule of life. Even in the spiritual realm there are many varieties. Oddly, some of them also seem to focus on parting you from your money while offering little evidence that the "tithe" or 'offering' is used in any way to promote Gods works of love and mercy. There are still other religions that focus more on a defined and rigid path to life as a means of salvation. The rules and rubrics as I say, the dogmas and directives. There is also an entirely more spiritual path to enlightenment. This path is usually typified by religions like Buddhism, Zen and forms of personal enlightenment and elevation.
I would argue that Jesus is of this last type. I would half jokingly steer you towards a comical yet enlightening book entitled The Gospel According to Biff. This would an amusing diversion from the serious aspects of which I write. In all seriousness though, Jesus seemed to be more spiritual than anyone. He railed against the rules and rubrics, moneychangers in the Temple and he often sought out solitude and personal reflection in quite places like the desert, the mountain tops and out at sea to commune with the Creator God or Father.
As the Shepherd of the flock he tries to lead us through the gate. Any other way will lead to trouble, any other route is not true. But how is that gate defined? What rule or measure does Jesus provide for us? Certainly it is the two great commandments. Aside from that Jesus' life is an example of what the gate is or how to proceed honestly through the gate. Jesus' life was a total embracing of two things. He embraced his humanity and an embracing of his divinity. Both were integral to who Jesus is.
So too for us then, we must embrace our humanity. That sounds great but what does it mean in practical terms. This last question is where many people fall prey to a pattern of rules and practices which they have been convinced is the enlightened path to reach their goal. In truth, the practicality of it as individual as each one of us. We must embrace who we are as a person. Whatever our talents are and what God made us as individuals. That is how Jesus lived, a total embracing of self in all that it entailed. For us it means finding out everything about who we are. Talents, gayness, straightness, in between, neither. Perhaps even one at one time in life and transitioning to another. Your artistic side? Explore that. The fact that we are meant to love our creator and one another and return to our Creator? Explore and revel in that. Head to the hillside, the desert and seek God. Seek God in everything and everyone. That is an integral part of who we are. Explore it all! That is your personal gate.
The gate is as individual as each of us is made but the path is shown to us in the life of Jesus Christ. When Jesus says that he has other sheep that do not belong to this fold, I believe he references other peoples and other paths that God has revealed. These paths are as valid as any other but Jesus typifies the journey. Jesus would have been a great Buddhist. Jesus could be the world's best Zen master.
The standard of living is unique as God's created world, as individual as you and me, celebrated by God, lived by Jesus.
I would argue that Jesus is of this last type. I would half jokingly steer you towards a comical yet enlightening book entitled The Gospel According to Biff. This would an amusing diversion from the serious aspects of which I write. In all seriousness though, Jesus seemed to be more spiritual than anyone. He railed against the rules and rubrics, moneychangers in the Temple and he often sought out solitude and personal reflection in quite places like the desert, the mountain tops and out at sea to commune with the Creator God or Father.
As the Shepherd of the flock he tries to lead us through the gate. Any other way will lead to trouble, any other route is not true. But how is that gate defined? What rule or measure does Jesus provide for us? Certainly it is the two great commandments. Aside from that Jesus' life is an example of what the gate is or how to proceed honestly through the gate. Jesus' life was a total embracing of two things. He embraced his humanity and an embracing of his divinity. Both were integral to who Jesus is.
So too for us then, we must embrace our humanity. That sounds great but what does it mean in practical terms. This last question is where many people fall prey to a pattern of rules and practices which they have been convinced is the enlightened path to reach their goal. In truth, the practicality of it as individual as each one of us. We must embrace who we are as a person. Whatever our talents are and what God made us as individuals. That is how Jesus lived, a total embracing of self in all that it entailed. For us it means finding out everything about who we are. Talents, gayness, straightness, in between, neither. Perhaps even one at one time in life and transitioning to another. Your artistic side? Explore that. The fact that we are meant to love our creator and one another and return to our Creator? Explore and revel in that. Head to the hillside, the desert and seek God. Seek God in everything and everyone. That is an integral part of who we are. Explore it all! That is your personal gate.
The gate is as individual as each of us is made but the path is shown to us in the life of Jesus Christ. When Jesus says that he has other sheep that do not belong to this fold, I believe he references other peoples and other paths that God has revealed. These paths are as valid as any other but Jesus typifies the journey. Jesus would have been a great Buddhist. Jesus could be the world's best Zen master.
The standard of living is unique as God's created world, as individual as you and me, celebrated by God, lived by Jesus.
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 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. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’
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