I Must Bring Them Also

Within the busyness of preparation for Christmas, preparation for the celebration of the arrival of our King, Advent is a time for reflection, to look back to the time when Jesus came as a baby and lived a human life, and to look forward to when He will come again. We are living in a time between these two events, when we know the love of Christ in our lives and can see His Kingdom at work around us and within us, but when we also know that the fullness of the Kingdom has not yet come. We are living in a world of both light and shade, but know the Light and that the darkness cannot overcome it, and look forward to a time when the Glory of the Son shines in all our lives.

In our society, it can be hard to be patient and wait when instant gratification is so ready to grasp. But the first people to visit Jesus at His birth were shepherds. Humble, often outside of mainstream society, out on the hills in all weathers, patiently alert for any danger and ready to care for their flock at any time. Jesus takes on this mantle in His ministry, seeking for the lost and welcoming the outcast, guarding from danger and caring for His flock.

John 10: 11 - 18 (NIV)

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

The Good Shepherd has care for His flock and for those outside the gates as well. He has complete care and concern for them, even down to laying down His own life for their salvation. He will seek the lost sheep and welcome the strayers back to the fold. He does not let anyone down or love them less because they live outside of the flock.

At Christmas, we gather together to sing carols, enjoy parties and special meals together. But we must keep an eye open for the lonely, for the outcast, for those working to help others without any time for themselves, for those who find Christmas a struggle for whatever reason - to help carry the light of Christ into their darkness and to know His love not just for Christmas but for all time.

The CAP Christmas Lunch on Wednesday was a lovely way to share fellowship together, share Ely and District CAP news and catch up with each other. Continuing client follow up is ready to go with Ely CAP email addresses set up for the befrienders helping out with this, so our hope is to soon be following up on clients who have become debt free, and also to check in on those who have dropped out for whatever reason.

The Christmas Hampers for our Ely and District CAP clients were also ready to go and a big thank you to everyone who has taken one or more to deliver, as well as to everyone who has helped put these together. We hope that both the gifts, but more importantly the personal contact will help bring the love and light of Christmas to our clients.

Please pray for all our clients as we approach Christmas, for the befrienders and the love and friendship that they bring and for our debt coaches for both their practical help and their loving care. Pray that Christmas may be a time of celebration, but also of peace and refreshment.