More Than a Fold - 11/6/22

Our church is a fold, but we are all part of a flock. A flock is a group under the guidance of a shepherd. Our shepherd is Jesus. A fold is a walled enclosure in which shepherds kept their sheep. A fold was meant to protect the sheep from wolves and thieves. Within our fold, we find many good things. We find friendship, accountability, and life-giving worship, but it should not be confused with Jesus’ purpose. Jesus was not exclusive. He always meant for all to have a relationship with Him. Our fold should be one that represents and resembles the Flock of Jesus. If we are unwilling to welcome others in, even when it is hard, then we miss the whole point of being together. Jesus was revolutionary in His purpose. Though He was raised in a Jewish community and attended the local synagogue with His family, He did not believe that Gentiles were unworthy of real relationship with God. He believed this because that was always God's design, and Jesus echoed the heart of the Father. “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Is. 42:6-7). So, when He hung on the cross, He knew it was for every Jew and Gentile. We must be more than a Fold. We must choose to be part of the Flock, and we must seek unity within that Flock.