John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
     Jesus is the Door and the good Shepherd in Jesus’ parable. He’s a good shepherd because He will do whatever it costs to save His sheep—even to laying down His life. He is prophesying what He will do to save us and give us abundant life. God’s love: the sustained direction of the will (He lays) toward the highest good (salvation) of others (the sheep) no matter what the cost (His life). What a good shepherd we have!  We are His sheep. We are saved!  We are loved! Jesus, You are good indeed!

Live to Love Scripture Encouragements

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 10.11

1 John 2:11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
My guess is that most of us have tripped over something in the dark. That’s the scene John painted in this verse as he described those who have hatred in their hearts for a brother or sister. When someone walks in darkness, he can’t see where he’s going—namely, to Judgment Day when he will give an account of his life to Jesus. John said he’s not only walking in the darkness, he is in the darkness. 
Jesus described the person who walks in darkness as someone who also has the darkness in them. “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matt. 6:23). When we live for self, we are consumed with the darkness of unbelief—the lack of faith in God. That inner darkness is revealed on the outside by a hatred for one’s brother or sister. Jesus taught that those who live in the inner darkness will eventually be thrown into the outer darkness (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). 
Presently, we who live to love with Jesus as walking in the Light because we have the Light of His life dwelling within. With Jesus, we are the outer light to those who are in the darkness and therefore walk in darkness. As long as the darkness in them is the “light” or the guide to how they live, they cannot see His love revealed in Christ or in us. However, at any point, God can open the eyes of their hearts to see His light. There is still hope for them as long as the outer light shines. We pray for God to open their eyes to the Light of His love in Christ and in us as we live to love them with Jesus.

The one who hates is in darkness

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Our encouragement today comes from Abel. He still speaks. How? He’s dead. And what message does he speak? Before answering these questions, let’s notice that the word translated “obtained the testimony” and “testifying” in this verse is the same word translated in vs. 2 “gained approval.” That’s why I interpreted “gained approval” in vs 2 as having an enduring testimony because of the faith God gave them. Who’s doing the testifying? God is! Notice it says, “God testifying.” It’s not saying that Cain testified of his faith by offering a sacrifice. Abel obtained or received something from God that Cain did not receive. Abel received a testimony from God that he was righteous before Him. He was given faith, an assurance or proof that his offering would be accepted by God. So he offered a better sacrifice than Cain because he was moved by God’s gift of faith. God testified to Abel that he was righteous through the faith He gave to him. 
Let’s now connect some dots. Abel’s righteousness didn’t come from Abel. Abel’s sacrifice wasn’t better because he was a good man. His righteousness came from His union with Jesus, which was God’s doing before the foundation of the world. Paul taught this good news explicitly in 1 Cor. 1:30-31. 
But by His (God’s) doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”
Abel’s faith, which motivated his sacrifice, was a testimony of God to Abel that God put him into Jesus Christ when He died on the cross and was risen from the dead. Jesus was delivered over because of Abel’s transgressions and was raised as a testimony of Abel’s justification or being made righteous. When God gave Abel faith to offer the sacrifice he did, God was testifying to Abel that he would be accepted by Him. The testimony or witness that Abel received from God, the Father, through Jesus Christ, still speaks to us who have also received the same kind of faith as Abel. We know, like Abel, that if we draw near to God through the blood and intercession of Jesus, we will be accepted and will receive whatever grace we need to glorify God. That’s the author’s point in all of these testimonies in chapter 11 of Hebrews.
When we live to love with Jesus, we are offering ourselves to God as a sacrifice like Abel offering the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions (Gen. 4:4). Listen to Paul’s calling the church of Ephesus (and you) to live to love with Jesus. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Through faith you have obtained a testimony from God that you are righteous through Jesus Christ, who offered Himself to God as a pleasing aroma to Him. The best way to celebrate Christmas is to walk in love. It’s the best gift we can give to God and everyone else because we love through Jesus Christ. We do so by the very faith He has given us. Abel says your offering will be received and accepted by God. Wow! What good news on this Christmas Day! Do you hear what I hear?

Have you heard Abel’s message?

This is the monthly blog by Norm Wakefield from www.livetolovewithjesus.com. To love like Jesus loves, one must believe and think the way Jesus believed and thought. This month, Norm, unpacks the first of three foundational truths that Jesus believed that are the bedrock of loving with Him.

Have you heard Abel’s message?

Norm Wakefield

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