Acts 11:19-26 / John 10:22-30
We are quite familiar with the 10 Commandments.
One of the 10 Commandments is “thou shall not steal”, which is the 8th Commandment.
That Commandment prohibits theft, which is widely interpreted to include stealing property, dishonesty in dealings and taking credit for others' work.
So, stealing or theft is a serious sin because it is a disregard for another person’s right of ownership.
And it will also lead to a collapse of law and order in society.
On the interpersonal level, when property is stolen, it leads to suspicion and eventually a breakdown of relationships that are based on trust.
In the gospel, Jesus says that the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice, and no one will ever steal them from Him.
God the Father gave the sheep to Jesus and no one can ever steal from the Father.
But we can’t steal anyone from Jesus, yet we can also commit indirect theft.
When a Christian leads another Christian the wrong way, or when a Christian commits a scandal and causes another Christian to lose faith, then stealing or the theft of a soul is committed, and a soul is lost.
Let us always listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow in His ways.
Let us help those who are lost to go back to the Good Shepherd, and together we journey into eternal life.