Changing the Price Tags: Tony Campolo "Who Switched The Price Tags?" One year, my best friend and I devised what we thought was a brilliant and creative plan for mischief. We decided to break into the basement of the local five-and-dime store. We did not plan to rob the place (Sunday School boys would never do that sort of the thing); instead, we planned to do something that, as far as the owner of the store was concerned, would have been far worse. Our plan was to get into that five-and-dime store and change the price tags on things. We imagined what it would be like the next morning when people came into the store and discovered that radios were selling for a quarter and bobby pins were priced at five dollars each. With diabolical glee, we wondered what it would be like in that store when nobody could figure out what the prices of things really should be. Sometimes I think that Satan has played the same kind of trick on all of us. Sometimes I think that he has broken into our lives and changed the price tags on things. Too often, under the influences of his malicious ploy, we treat what deserves to be treated with loving care as though it were of little worth. On the other hand, we find ourselves tempted to make great sacrifices for that which, in the long run of life, has no lasting value and delivers very little gratification. Sometimes I think that one of the worst consequences of being fallen creatures is our failure to understand what really is important in life.
He leads me in the right tracks. Psalm 23:3
Did you know that sheep are never driven? They are an animal that has to be led. They are leaders but followers.
As we talk about the verse “He leads me” could we find a better guide than the Good Shepherd that is talked about in John 10:1-15 “I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice." Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them. "I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep," he said. "All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.’
I want us to see the qualities of this Good Shepherd and then ask you is He Your Shepherd?
1. He is all wise.
The song writer put it “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness all I have to is follow.” He knows where there are difficulties, exposures and every danger. He knows who the enemy is. He knows his hiding place. He knows his method of assault. He knows his means of attack. He knows the road we travel. The grades of the road. The pot holes we travel over. He knows the turns we must take and the detours that come our way. He knows the length of our journey. He knows the location of refreshing waters, the green pastures, the sheep folds where we can find rest and the safe passageways through the valleys of death to the glory land.
2. He is always alert.
1. He never gets tired. The Bible says “He never slumbers or sleeps. He is able to see the ay ahead. He knows all the dangers but also let us enjoy the beauty of the path we take. He is sensitive to every sheep’s’ need and can hear the faintest cry. Story of Robin from “Fresh Power” by Jim Cymbala.
3 He has experience.
He came to earth to be a man. He has traveled where we have been. A Christmas song says, “Pleased with men as man to dwell.” He experienced the life we travel. He knows about temptation (40 days in the wilderness), sorrow (when His friend Lazarus died, He wept), loneliness (as He prayed the disciples slept and when they arrested Him all of his followers ran away) and victory (“Go tell Peter I am a live). HB4:14-15 “That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” He went to the cross in my pace. He died and was placed in a tomb. The third day He came back to life and lives forever.
4. He is more than capable.
He is just as able to help us today as He did 2,000 years ago when He conquered death. His grace, power and over-all ability has not weakened. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
"Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow; let the fire and cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction, Land me safe on Canaan’s side. Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee."
Jesus guides and leads, He does not drive. One may drive cattle but sheep must be lead. Sheep have good ears but their eyes are not too good.
JN 10:3-5 “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice."
A story comes from a man we who visited a place where there were 15 shepherds watering their sheep near the edge of a city. When the sheep were full one shepherd went near the road above the sheep and cupped his hand over his mouth to call his sheep. A certain number of sheep came out of the midst to follow that shepherd. A second shepherd called out with his voice and a certain number of sheep came out to follow him. So it went until the final shepherd called and each sheep were following the right shepherd because they knew His voice. They followed a voice they knew.
It is said of those who have sheep that it is only when a sheep is sick they will not hear the right voice and will follow any one. What a lesson for us to keep spiritually healthy. (Card check).
How the Good Shepherd leads us:
He leads by His voice. He came to draw all men unto Him. Christ is so full of love, mercy, compassion and His helpfulness is beautiful. Inviting and uplifting it draw as nothing else.
He leads by his eye. Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which thou shall go: I will guide you with mine eye.” Perhaps you have had one in authority over you that only had to nod their head or wink at you and you knew you needed to obey. One in the N. T named Peter had such an experience. He had denied Jesus three times. The Bible says that as He hung on the cross and saw what Peter had done, He looked upon him. It affected peter so much that he went out and wept bitterly. It was the look Jesus gave that caused Peter remember, repent and be restored.
The road that He going to take us along is not an interstate or a turnpike but a path of righteousness. Jesus said it was narrow road and there would be few who wanted to go that way. I just wonder at some things that go on in the name of Jesus today that 20 years ago were considered sins. Did the Bible change in that time? The Bible says we are to avoid every appearance of evil yet there are some churches that show clips from R rated movies for illustrations. The Bible is very clear on issue of marriage between man and woman yet there are thousands of same sex marriages in more than one state. The Bible is very clear on being pure in our speech yet I have heard people who say they love Jesus use such words as G. D., O Jesus Christ, hell and many other words. When I was younger and not even in a Christian home I would get my mouth washed out with soap for saying those words. There seems to be no shame in what people say or what they wear. May be it is the fault of the preachers who have gone soft afraid of offending people. I just know that when life is over we will stand before Jesus and our measurement will be our likeness to HIM.
The road or path is a right path. This means we are to walk uprightly, righteously, fairly and above reproach. Our words are true. We do not lie or say we are going to do something and not do it. I read of a story who was calling on lady who owed him money. He came to the door and a little girl answered. She said my mom is not home. The girl was only six. After a conversation with the little girl the man asked, “When will your mom be home?” Se opened the door and said, “Mommie, when will you be back home?”
This road or path is a path of light. JN 8:12 “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus is like a flash light at night. It shows the path we need to take and keeps us from stepping in that which would harm us. He gives us light each day that we need not stumble or fall.
This road or path is a good path. PS 65:11 “You crown the year with Your goodness.” Why would we want to walk in a path of badness and wickedness? When we walk in the path He has for us His presence goes with us. He promises to be with us all the way.
The path is an increasing and enjoyable path. PRO 4:18 ‘The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.” When you are walking with Jesus the path gets better each day. The longer we walk this way and the closer we get to our Shepherd the more enjoyable and delightful the journey becomes.
This path is a pleasant path for we are walking with many noble and good companions.
The path is also known as the path of holiness. IS 35:8-10 “And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, and there will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will follow it. Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness.
What a great family to be in where righteous reigns. We live to make good the Name of God who is holy.
He leadeth me
"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, He taketh my burden away; He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, He giveth me strength for each day.
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns, And, filled with His fullness divine, I sing in my rapture, ’O glory to God For such a Redeemer as mine!’
When clothed in His brightness transported I rise To meet Him in clouds of the sky, His perfect salvation, His wonderful love, I’ll shout with the millions on high."
Now you have heard that He leads. The question I give you now will you follow?
