18/01/2016 - GATHERED SHEEP

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For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  1 Peter 2.25

With the exception of Christ, all people since Abel and Cain have been separated from God and been condemned to eternal perdition. However, the Lord provided salvation for humanity, and nowadays, we are not like sheep going astray any longer. However, if a person does not accept Jesus, he will be forever astray from the Lord and from eternal joy.

This is the message that we must preach to all people, in all places and at all times, for the loss that they may suffer without reason is enormous. Someone might think that our purpose is to fill our church in order for it to be the greatest in the world, but this is not true. The divine order is that we may teach people so that they might not be lost.

The Father gave us His Spirit in order for us to obtain success. If we are in communion with Him, we will set free the prisoners from sin, even the dirtiest ones. Our mission is to go out and walk through the ways of life. Then, whenever we find the lame, paralytic, blind, and all who suffer, we must invite them to enter in the house of God and fill it. Sanctification comes in the moment when a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Peter affirms that we were like the others that have not yet been saved, like sheep going astray. This understanding will help us to speak better about God’s plan for humanity. He does not desire to send anyone to the outside darkness, nor does He want to see anyone suffering forever. On the contrary, He wants everyone to return to Him.

While someone is astray, he will have bitter moments of anguish and will find no peace or joy. One of our greatest evils is to desire, in the first place, the growth of our own projects. There is nowhere in Scriptures that backs us to desires our own projects. Our order is to fill the house of God with those who are morally and spiritually dead and lost.

As the lost returns to the Overseer of his soul, he finds what happiness is about, and starts talking about God’s love with faith and boldness, driving others to prove how good and healthy it is to be cared by our Excellent Pastor. If you have not yet returned to God, do so now. It does not compensate to walk around after things of the flesh and the world.

The good Pastor will lead you to pastures of good food, the tranquil waters that will never cause you any harm. He will not let any lion or bear have you as a meal, but will anoint your head with oil, and your cup will overflow. Do not stay out of the feast that the Almighty has prepared for you in the presence of your enemies (Ps 23).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares