Do you have the keys ?

Congratulations 😆we start with John 10 today .. such a long long time I took to get on with a new chapter ...I really hope previous posts blessed atleast some ☺️il try to keep it real simple. Let's start

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but CLIMBS in by another way, that man is a THIEF and a ROBBER. But he who enters by the DOOR is the SHEPHERD of the SHEEP. " John 10:1,2

It's important to understand why the lord uses the analogy of sheepfold and the door. Jesus starts the passage by warning ⚠️ the people that the ones who enter by ANOTHER way , are the ones who really don't have the 🔑keys. Isn't that obvious?

The next question is who HAS the keys ? And who GIVES the keys? Let's start by the giver , Paul tells us in Galatians 1 " I Paul, an apostle - NOT from MEN nor THROUGH man, but through JESUS CHRIST and GOD the FATHER."

Since the analogy is of a sheepfold, the lord is really talking about ministry unto people , and the calling of shepherds . He is making a clear distinction that there are shepherds who have the KEYS and then there are the ones who CLIMB through another way , due to no access to keys 🔑

Please understand that this is not just about the organised church body.. and in no way this is a comment on any particular organised body of Christ .... I am too little to make such comments .... but what I am really trying to put out here is .. that we all have a sheepfold around us , we can either climb, Jump.. or just ask the lord for the keys ....😁just the way Paul got his set of keys on his way to Damascus.

Keys represent AUTHORITY .. and keys are given to us by the real OWNER... rather it's really a handover of ownership ... but understand that we really are not the real owners but CARETAKERS... Christ is the owner of the sheepfold .. because he told Peter .. take care of MY 🐑.. we are in no way owners of the sheepfold .. ☺️

It is a good news for some ..that the keys according to PAUL are not given by men .. but by GOD.. don't wait for nodding from men .. it's advisable to submit to experienced sheepfold caretakers 😆but please don't wait to get your set of keys from them ..... but take it from the owner .

Responsibilities follow the KEYS....

Imagine you are taking care of a rented house , the owner gave you the keys ... now you are living in that house .. the people know this house as yours, what do you have to do now

1. Take the PAIN of looking after and caring for the things of the house . What's broken ..get it repaired, what's lost.. go look for it ... clean it .. MAINTAIN it .. the condition of your house .. rather the borrowed sheepfold of Christ .. is totally your responsibility

Now the ones who climb and come in are VISITORS .. rather in Gods language they are robbers 🙈so would you ask a visitor or a robber .. hey my TV needs to be repaired can you get it done ? 🤕well , not sure if you would get that TV back .. remember it was never yours in the first place .. it's Gods .. be careful .. take the PAIN of the work of Gods house.

2. PROVIDE for the house, the fridge needs to be full .. cooking gas in place .. raw materiel gathered ... sheeps depend on you .. their food is not their headache but yours😆

3. Be a righteous DECISION MAKER .. the decisions of revamping the house , breaking it and rebuilding it .. changing the setting of the sofa 🐼.. whatever decisions you need to take .. to keep it healthy and a liveable area .. take the decisions .. after all you have the keys 🔑

4. Lastly .. be ANSWERABLE to the real owner .. keep him in the loop regarding your decisions .. don't get to independent .. after all you might have the keys and the authority .. but keep your integrity intact .. it is Gods house .. his sheepfold 🙂

After reading this passage .. I realised .. I really can't blame the state of the given house .. or in better words .. the state of the sheeps .. for the condition the HOUSE is in .. I am the caretaker.. I have the keys .. I have the authority .. ultimately I AM the one who shall stand before the throne and give an account of the borrowed sheepfold .. the rented house .

Get your set of keys .. start cleaning up .. and please invite me over too 🐼

Prayer - my loving .. precious Jesus .. Thankyou that you are the real owner .. the one who is wise and just ..thankyou for giving each one of us a sheepfold .. a home .. please hold our hands and guide us in how to manage our home .. please .. can you be the head of our homes.. our sheepfold ? We love you ...

Stay blessed 💕

#Jesus #Gospel #key #bible