Reflecting on John 10:16-21“They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
Jesus lets His disciples know there are other sheep out there.
Not just the sheep we know, the ones from our pen, the ones like us.
My sense is He is referring to the Gentiles, non-Jews, the ‘non-elect’.
Israel was chosen by God to bless the nations, not to be the only saved-ones.
Jesus opened the door to non-Jews, to people of all tribes and nations.
There is one humanity, and one church under one Lord and Saviour.
Our separation into denominations does not reflect God’s goal.
Yes we think and live differently, but there is only one church.
I no longer belong to the CRC; I belong to the O.H.C.C.
The one, holy, catholic (meaning universal) church.
All those who know and follow the voice of Jesus belong to the O.H.C.C.
No matter what denomination they belong to, or what their doctrinal perspective.
One flock, where the sheep I know, and the other sheep, belong to Jesus.
Churches may associate in groups, but they should never alienate or reject others.
Bad shepherds divide and argue; the Good Shepherd brings them all together!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, for some reason we still prefer to separate rather than unite. Humble me and all of us to know that we are all like sheep that go astray, and You bring us together into one flock.
Although I am a member of a denomination, I, along with other Christians recite the apostles creed which states O.H.C.C. All too often we pay lip service but not heart commitment to what we recite. There is but one God we serve and it is He Who is our Saviour and not our denomination. I/We need the fellowship of all Christians.