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I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming.
The wolf then snatches and scatters them.
This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep.
John 10:11-13 CSB
Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Sheep.
Wolves.
There are wolves. 
Wolves who would snatch us away. 
Wolves eat sheep. 
There are those who just want to use you, consume you, use you up for their own benefit.
Wolves scatter the sheep. Take them away from their community, away from safety, isolated. 
I wonder who the wolves are that Jesus was thinking about. 
Who are they today?
Wolves cause hurt, suffering and destruction.
The Good Shepherd does not run, but protects the sheep by giving his own life. On the cross he was hurt, suffered, destroyed, for us.
That's love. 
He wins by giving. 
Some days I wish he would just come in power and destroy the wolves, but then I see some of the wolf in me. 
Jesus is the anti-wolf who nurtures, leads to safety, who builds up, and who keeps us together. In community. 
And Jesus calls us to follow him. To be like him. 
To be an under shepherd in his kingdom.
To win by giving.
#christmas
#thisislove
#belong
#safe
#dearlyloved

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