Third And Fourth Connections

Having shown the first and second life-altering connections to the game, On the Bank: In the River, as being the Place of Position, and the Place of Person, we look now on two more connections. 

The third life-altering or life-changing connection to the game is the Place of Power. Simple!  I hear you say!  Indeed they are. These are all so simple, yet so absolutely factual and mind-bogglingly true. Ponder these!

Children are in the game because they have hearing power, understanding power, moving power and more. In other words, no person who is immobile, deaf or not of a sound mind, for example, will be found in this game. Don’t you agree? Therefore, all the players in this game have the same power, in that none of them is deaf, or paraplegic. The same is true here for Jesus’ disciples. They all have powers which He has given to them as His own. They belong to Him, and have received from Him, no other. They each heard Him call them and they each responded, all personal indeed. They all have the Power of the Presence of Jesus. They all have the Power of the Teaching of Jesus. They all have the Power of Fellowship with Jesus. They all have the singular Power as His sheep, to be as He gives.

Are we not Jesus’ sheep also? Then we have the power to turn our backs on all other deceiving powers and listen and obey our Shepherd only. Are you hearing our Shepherd’s voice, even in this moment, crystal clear in our hearing ears? He is saying that He goes before His sheep, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10: 4b - 5

No! You cannot have the Lord’s Almighty, Supreme powers and live obeying weaker powers.  Check your life-powers!

The fourth connection to the game is the Place of Privilege.  Have you thought of this? The mere fact that you are incorporated or included in the game is a privilege. As children, that was not a thought we had, but we can look back and see what a privilege it was to be a part of the children in the game. It was not impossible for other children to be looking on and not be able to play in the game. Take some play areas of schools where all kinds of children are. It is not uncommon to see a little boy or girl, who is perfectly able and capable, to be left out of the game, because of some reason or other. The point being made here is that privilege must never be underestimated or taken for granted.

Is this not also true with Jesus? His disciples had such a great and high privilege to be with Jesus, it sometimes makes one envious. They were not just His students, but they were His friends, His companions, His family and His intimately close people. Many others, perhaps, might have wanted to be also, but were not chosen and called. You and I have a privilege of all privileges to be called Jesus' friends.  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15: 15. We are in this place of privilege and must never take it for granted. 

No! You cannot have the Lord’s privileges and live as people who are not close friends with Him.

Check your life-responses!