{"id":24916,"date":"2015-03-15T00:20:47","date_gmt":"2015-03-15T04:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=24916"},"modified":"2015-03-13T18:11:35","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T22:11:35","slug":"lay-down-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/03\/15\/lay-down-my-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Lay Down My Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM<\/em><\/strong>\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

I AM<\/strong> The Light of the World
\nI AM<\/strong> The Bread of Life
\nI AM<\/strong> The Door <\/em><\/span>
\n I AM<\/strong> The Good Shepherd
\nI AM<\/strong> The True Vine <\/em><\/span>
\n I AM<\/strong> The Way, The Truth, and The Life<\/em><\/span>
\n I AM<\/strong> The Resurrection and The Life<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him<\/em> blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus\u2019 revelation of Himself as I AM<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus\u2019 sacrifice\u2014His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death\u2026and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead. \u00a0We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them. \u00a0And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus\u2019 words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u271e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0\u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n

I AM<\/em><\/strong> the Good Shepherd. \u00a0The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
\n<\/span><\/span>The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep.
\nSo when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.
\nThen the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
\n<\/span><\/span>The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
\n<\/span><\/span>I AM<\/em> <\/strong>the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me\u2014<\/span>
\n just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father\u2014<\/span>
\n and I lay down my life for the sheep.<\/span>
\n I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.<\/span>
\n I must bring them also.<\/span>
\n They too will listen to My voice and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.<\/span>
\n The reason My Father loves Me<\/span>
\n is that I lay down My life\u2014only to take it up again.<\/span>
\n No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.<\/span>
\n I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.<\/span>
\n This command I received from My Father.<\/span><\/p>\n