Title: Three privileged blessings of life
The Gospel of John (66) The three privileged blessings of life (John 10:12-30)
1. a firm belief
This text is about the privileges granted to the sheep in Solomon's Pass on the Feast of Pentecost, the feast commemorating the restoration of the temple. The number one property list that the Lord gave to the sheep is ‘firm faith.’ People think that hearing a lot of the Word leads to faith, but without the work of the Holy Spirit, even if you hear a lot of the Word, you will not have faith (verse 25). Also, we know that faith is created by looking at many evidences, but no matter how many miracles and evidences we see, true faith does not come from that alone (25). You do not become the Lord's sheep by believing first, but because you are the Lord's sheep first (verse 26).
Faith seems to have it in one's own strength, but it is actually a gift from God. Give thanks to God for having faith, and do not boast of your faith, but have a deeper personal encounter with God. The Lord has a deep personal interest in each person. He knows his secret and knows all his thoughts and wishes. Therefore, if you want the problem to be solved and your frustrated heart to be renewed, have a strong faith and personally meet the Lord deeply.
2. The voice of the Lord
The Lord gives us strong faith and at the same time continues to walk with us and hears His voice whenever we need it (verse 27). Now, never listen to the words that emphasize human dwarfism. Usually, fathers value and care about their children. So is God. God wants intimate conversation. Actively seek the voice of God. The voice of God is natural for believers and is the basis of great joy.
Someone asks. “God has given you all the words in the Bible. What other words do you give them?” The Greek word for ‘Written Word’ is logos, and the logos is enough to guide life. When the Logos actually strikes the soul, the ‘Spoken Word’ is called rhema in Greek. There is the voice of God that can be heard with such a rhema. Of course, that voice never goes out of line with the Logos. When the given voice does not deviate from the Logos, it is the voice of God.
3. An obedient heart
What is more important than hearing God's voice is to obey the Word (verse 27). There is an important criterion for measuring a person's spiritual vitality. The question is whether he really desires to live according to God's will. Obedience is more precious than a sign. When obedience is emphasized, true signs also appear. Without obedience and practice, if you keep checking “Is it the voice of God?” and there is no actual movement, how sad is it?
One day, a seminary student heard this voice. “Go northwest.” So, I found the largest piece of land in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, and shouted, “This land is mine!” I've been acting like that for several years, and I haven't done my job properly. It is by no means the voice of God to make us live a life of hesitation without fulfilling the mission entrusted to us. God did not give us the Word to please our ears and hearts, but to live according to the Word.
If a certain voice shakes your heart and interferes with your future course, it is not the voice of God. The voice of God is the most solid foundation in life. That solid foundation is important because there are always storms of hardship in life. When you always take a bold step with this solid foundation, you will never lose or perish (verse 28). The blessing of salvation also includes the blessing of being always protected under the Lord's absolute protection. All the situations the saints are faced with are actually situations that are unfolding for the benefit of the saints.