Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
One Flock with One Shepherd (One
Lord & One Baptism)
Rev. Biju P. Simon
San Fransisco MTC,
CA
15 just as the Father knows
me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
I remember reading a testimony from a person who was adopted from an orphanage who said, “I was only six weeks old when I was adopted by my parents. I didn’t choose them; they chose me. I am grateful that I was able to grow up in a stable Christian home. I was only eight days old when I was adopted by God. I didn’t choose Him; He chose me. I am grateful to go to the house of the Lord and know that I am His child. Even though I was not born their child, now I share their family name, and I will receive their inheritance.”
This testimony catches an important essence of our Holy Baptism; we are adopted into God’s fold, as a shepherd knows His sheep. Sheep cannot do anything unless they are loved by a Shepherd and the Shepherd took the first action of knowing His sheep. He knows his own sheep (and they know him) (v. 14).
The English word “know” is originated from the Greek word ginosko which is both a cognitive term, "to know intellectually," and a relational term that can connote a wide range of human relationships as well. God made us part of his pasture/fold when we were baptized into his name (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Through Jesus’s salvific birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension and the promise of second coming Jesus gave us inheritance. Therefore, I can affirm my faith through the one baptism I have received and I’ve been part of the one flock with one shepherd.
I remember reading a testimony from a person who was adopted from an orphanage who said, “I was only six weeks old when I was adopted by my parents. I didn’t choose them; they chose me. I am grateful that I was able to grow up in a stable Christian home. I was only eight days old when I was adopted by God. I didn’t choose Him; He chose me. I am grateful to go to the house of the Lord and know that I am His child. Even though I was not born their child, now I share their family name, and I will receive their inheritance.”
This testimony catches an important essence of our Holy Baptism; we are adopted into God’s fold, as a shepherd knows His sheep. Sheep cannot do anything unless they are loved by a Shepherd and the Shepherd took the first action of knowing His sheep. He knows his own sheep (and they know him) (v. 14).
The English word “know” is originated from the Greek word ginosko which is both a cognitive term, "to know intellectually," and a relational term that can connote a wide range of human relationships as well. God made us part of his pasture/fold when we were baptized into his name (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Through Jesus’s salvific birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension and the promise of second coming Jesus gave us inheritance. Therefore, I can affirm my faith through the one baptism I have received and I’ve been part of the one flock with one shepherd.
PRAYER
Dear Lord thank you for
knowing me through Baptism. Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Through Baptism God adopted me as His own Sheep.
Through Baptism God adopted me as His own Sheep.