Today’s Podcast

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1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
2. I don’t know if you’re a fan of Aesop’s Fables, but Jesus’ words today remind me of “The Fox and the Shepherd.” Stick around and find out why.
3. Scripture
   1. John 10:7-10
   2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheep.  All who approached the sheep before Me came as thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to their voices.  I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be liberated, will go in and go out, and will find pastures.  The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.
4. Devotional
   1. Aesop gave us a lot of pithy little stories to help us remember some life lessons. Most adhere to the same moral codes God asks of us. “The Fox and the Shepherd” reminds me of how Satan stands by ready to pounce. The story goes like this:
   2. A wolf hung about near a flock of sheep for a long time, but made no attempt to molest them. The shepherd at first kept a sharp eye on him, for he naturally thought he meant mischief. But as time went by and the wolf showed no inclination to meddle with the flock, he began to look upon him more as a protector than as an enemy; and when one day some errand took him to the city, he felt no uneasiness at leaving the wolf with the sheep. But as soon as his back was turned the wolf attacked them and killed the greater number. When the shepherd returned and saw the havoc he had wrought, he cried, “It serves me right for trusting my flock to a wolf.”
      1. Clearly, Jesus isn’t the shepherd in this story
      2. He guards us if we let Him
      3. But the world want to break in and rob us of everything good and holy
   3. When we talk about the wolf being at the door, this is the picture I often see
      1. Not a growling, aggressive, ready to kill everything at first sight animal
      2. But a patient predator waiting for the right moment
      3. Waiting for us to let our guard down so he can enter our lives with the right temptations to cause us to fall
      4. As soon as we let our guard down the wolf pounces
      5. Looks and acts like a protector, but at the first opportunity, death awaits
   4. Jesus reminds us He is the shepherd at the gate and if anyone tries into come into the fold by any means other than through Him, they are a robber and a thief.
      1. Satan wants to get his hands on us and destroy us just like the wolf in Aesop’s tale. But Jesus is ever vigilant. God will never leave us or forsake us.
      2. We can trust Him as the Good Shepherd to always be on at the gate helping us through this journey, protecting us from the evil one when we let Him.
   5. Aesop can teach us a few things, but Jesus can teach us a lot more if we will listen to Him. Try Him out for a while and you’ll see
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

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