Our Daily Bread June 19
Life to the Full / By: Remi Oyedele I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd.
John 10:10–11
Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 10:7–11 (NIV):
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Seventeenth-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes famously wrote that human life in its natural state is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Hobbes argued that our instincts tend toward war in a bid to attain dominance over others; thus the establishment of government would be necessary to maintain law and order.
The bleak view of humanity sounds like the state of affairs that Jesus described when He said, “All who have come before me are thieves and robbers” (John 10:8). But Jesus offers hope in the midst of despair. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy,” but then the good news: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (v. 10). Psalm 23 paints a refreshing portrait of the life our Shepherd gives us. In Him, we “lack nothing” (v. 1) and are refreshed (v. 3). He leads us down the right paths of His perfect will, so that even when we face dark times, we need not be afraid; for He is present to comfort us (vv. 3–4). He causes us to triumph in the face of adversity and overwhelms us with blessings (v. 5). His goodness and love follow us every day, and we have the privilege of His presence forever (v. 6).
May we answer the Shepherd’s call and experience the full, abundant life He came to give us.
Today’s Hymns:
New Life in Christ
The Lord’s My Shepherd
Scripture to Respond:
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Colossians 2:9-10 New International Version (NIV)
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Reflection:
When you hear the call of this shepherd of love, would you choose to follow the good
Shepherd who lay down His life for us, or you would not repent and continue to be a
lost sheep that walks your own way?
Whether you can experience God’s love and a fulfilled life or not depends on our choice!
Prayer:
Jesus, only You can give people an abundant and fulfilled life. Please help us, the
real satisfaction is found only in You.
Wong Wai Tung (Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) & Sam Chow (Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) Translated by Esther Leung
