Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Sunday, March 22, Galatians 1:7-12

"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (KJV)

"Truly, truly, I say unto 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. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:1-5).

As I look at this passage in John, I see a key statement: "he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."

Understanding this has been revolutionary for me. We do not blindly follow and hope we are good enough. We pray "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)

Get it? He makes. He leads. He restores. And it is for His name's sake. And He will fulfill His promises. And with that sure hope, we trust. We hear His voice. We get up each morning with the prayer, "Lord, as I plant my feet upon the floor and begin my day, let me follow Your voice." Then we pray in secret, and watch how He providentially guides our steps.

And we learn to discern by seeing what happens during our day.

We set our affections on Him. We trust that He will direct our steps. We see that "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

We feast on His Word, which helps direct our steps upon the right path, and the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within us and guides us as we listen and trust. It is a gentle voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd.

We know that "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6).

The thief comes only to steal and to kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

And the sheep exist in a flock, which we call the Church, and the Good Shepherd is the Head. I hope you belong to a good "flock" who know the voice of the Shepherd. If you are part of a "church" so-called that preaches anything contrary, flee, for you are in a cursed house.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps

Review Day!

Linking verse numbers:

My memory character for verses 12 is the "TiN" man from "wizard of Oz" fame (T=1, N=2, vowels fillers). He is doing the actions, squeaking all the while from his rusty joints. And of course, he is wearing a huge bow "Tie" for chapter 1 (T=1)