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 WHOM DO YOU INCLUDE? (JOHN 10:11-18)

Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

REFLECTION 

Whom do you include? is the theme for our reflection for today. The notion of inclusion bothers on a number of factors however the question for us to answer today is whom do we include in the fellowship of Christ? Some societies are organised by class, political affiliation and ethnicity.  To be part of a group of people you must possess certain qualities and in some organisations, you must be of a certain class to be recognised as a member of the organization. 

Jesus does not discriminate but includes all into His sheepfold. This is evident in John 10:14-16 when he said “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16). Christians must understand that the church is not a social club where only some families or individuals with membership cards have a proprietary interest. We were once upon a time lost and blinded by sin but by the grace of God, we have been saved. “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25 ). In other words, some of us were outcasts but Jesus found us and included us in His sheepfold.  

It is our duty as sheep in the sheepfold to be interested in the inclusion of the lost sheep who are outside the walls of salvation or the sheepfold. It is for this reason Jesus said that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17).  All believers are charged to spread this good news to all and sundry, especially our brothers and sisters who are yet to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. For as to whom to include, Jesus, tells us in Mattew 28:18-20 that  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

It is rather sad that most churches have fundamentally become welfare organisations for their members only. There is little or no focus on evangelism and outreach programmes to bring the lost sheep into the sheepfold. Even when new members join the church they feel estranged because of discrimination in the fellowship of Christ. We are to understand that the church is a place for all and everyone should feel loved and accepted. We must endeavour to eschew all kinds of favouritism, classism, church politics, division and ethnicity within the church of Christ. For we are greatly encouraged by Apostle Paul’s words to the Galatians that “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons (and daughters) of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek(ethnicity), there is neither slave nor free(classism), there is no male and female (gender discrimination), for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29) Shalom.

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, REVIVE THE CHURCH IN THE 21 CENTURY TO FOCUS ON OUR FUNDAMENTAL MISSION OF SOUL-WINNING TO INCLUDE THE LOST SHEEP INTO YOUR SHEEPFOLD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)