I love the Bible. I really love the Bible, for so many reasons. Jesus was such a great story teller and being a Texan, that matters to me. We are known for our tall tales and long-winded stories. Christ was simply following tradition for his culture too. The world of Jesus was an oral tradition world. In case that sounds off to you, it means that it revolved more around what was heard, than what was written. Remember, books were handwritten and extremely costly. Common people did not have them and only a few scholarly ones did. The Torah was kept sacred for the priestly members of the synagogue. You listened and you memorized to keep stories and truths alive.
When Jesus sat with his people on the hillside, it was a natural thing. However, his stories drew them in with creative truth and revelation. Often he would say, "For those who have ears to hear," because his truths were revealed to the open hearted listener. The others just got a great crowd hang and warm fuzzies.
John 10: 1-15 is my current favorite hillside talk.
One of its core truths is the goodness of God towards His people. You wouldn't think that would be so tough to understand, but for me it has been a lifelong struggle. Somehow embedded in my DNA has been the lie that God was not for me.
It is the remnant of an mind in process of redemption. Somethings are just harder.
Whenever I allow Christ to reveal this mysterious mindset of grace, my life changes.
So as you lie down to sleep and count your sheep, picture a Loving Shepherd allowing his sheep to delight in the rich beauty of his pastureland.
That is our God.
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