From: "Phil Rembleski"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:26 AM

Subject: 10-16-25 THOUGHTS

10-16-25   THOUGHTS

A simple story tells an awesome truth.  That truth is Jesus giving His life for our salvation!  Verses 17-18 say to me that God designed His plan to save mankind, but Jesus had the choice to perfect that plan.  “The Father loves me, because I lay down My life...”  It is  “by Christ’s own initiative!”  The last verse discusses authority.  God gave Christ authority!  I believe the temptations of Jesus by Satan were very real.  As the song says...  “He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone... for  you and me.”   Yes!  He is the GOOD SHEPHERD!

John 10:11-18   "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  12  "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  13  "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.  14  "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15  even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16  "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17  "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18  "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

Our Prayer:
We can but thank You, O Father God, for the beauty of Your awesome plan to save us.  It is infused with love from all directions.  Grace and mercy and love have come down to save us and give us peace with You.  Awful suffering has brought sweet victory to Your helpless creation.  Help us, O God, to respond more powerfully with great rejoicing.  All praise to our God who loves us so amazingly.  Awaken us to the joys of this great salvation.   In the name of the one who saves us,    Amen.