Thursday – Week One
The Lord is my shepherd…
The shepherd cares for his sheep.
We’re not talking about some sentimentality or simple affection, though the shepherd does love his sheep.
We’re not talking about a warm fuzzy feeling.
We are talking about care that is expressed through blood, sweat, and tears.
Being a shepherd wasn’t easy or for the faint of heart. Shepherding is hard work. You’ve got the sheep to deal with. Stubborn sheep don’t want to go in the direction that is healthy for them. Sheep get injured and beat up and need to be picked up, cleaned up, and bandaged up. But a shepherd takes care of the sheep. He does exactly what the sheep need. The sheep may not like it, appreciate it, or sometimes even yield willingly to it, but the shepherd does what is the best interest of the sheep so that they can thrive and grow.
But the sheep aren’t the only challenge.
There were predators that want to hurt the sheep and as we’ve said, sheep can’t fight for themselves. The shepherd had to fight off wolves and other animals wanting to devour the sheep. Snarling teeth weren’t just directed at the sheep, those predators snapped at the shepherd, too. Would you want to volunteer to have an angry wolf with a big appetite come at you as you stood between them and lunch? No? A good shepherd stood his ground and chased all off those that threatened his sheep.
Then you had the bandits. There were thieves that wanted to steal the sheep for their own benefit. They didn’t care about the sheep, they cared about what the sheep could gain them. They saw the sheep for its wool, for food, of for money they could pocket by selling it to someone else. These robbers, as it says in John 10:10, just wanted to kill and destroy. A good shepherd was ready to defend the sheep. No thief was going to harm them on their watch. Running away from the fight wasn’t an option.
Caring for sheep comes at a cost, but the good shepherd is willing to pay it.
Read John 10:11-15. Not every person was cut out to be a shepherd. Some wanted the pay but weren’t fully committed to the job. When attackers came, they wanted none of it. They took off and left the sheep to fend for themselves. In some fashion, we all know people like that. We’ve all had friends that were they for us when times were great, but as soon as there was conflict, left us high and dry. Or we’ve had teammates that gave their all when you were winning, but when the losses piled up, packed it up and quit. The reality is that when things get tough, some people rise up and others run off. The good shepherd doesn’t go anywhere when conflict comes. While the hired hand cares about himself, the good shepherd cares for his sheep.
You’ve had people abandon you when you have needed them. You were going through a tough time and all those friends you thought you had, were nowhere to be found. The storm winds were blowing, the waves were crashing on you, and you were struggling to stay afloat. You looked around and those that you relied on seemed to be missing in action.
But you were not alone, the good shepherd was there. He was still caring for you, even though you may not have seen Him at that moment. If you are His sheep, He isn’t going anywhere. He will stick by you, protect you, and lead you even when, or maybe even especially when, times are tough.
You aren’t always easy to care for. Neither am I. We wander, we resist, we think we can figure it out on our own. The Good Shepherd Jesus sticks with you and me. Even when we kick against Him, He still gently guides us in the direction we need to go. He cares deeply for us.
Be assured that when things get messy, when we find ourselves in the thickets and briars of our own hardheadedness, He still reaches in and pulls us out, cleans us up, and puts us on the right path again. He won’t abandon us. Even if everyone else does.
The enemy continues to attack. The devil seeks to rob your job, steal your blessing, and discourage your walk. He would love to see you defeated and destroyed. The Good Shepherd is on your side. He is protecting you with His mighty right hand. You can rest easy knowing that the Good Shepherd stands between you and him, and He isn’t going to let him get to you.
Questions for Today:
- What is a way that you have seen Jesus care for you?
- When was a time you saw others run away when your life got messy?
- How does it feel knowing that the Good Shepherd will always stay with you?
- How can you live in light of that awareness today?
Prayer for Today:
Thank You, Lord for Your constant care over my life. I am not always easy to deal with. I can be stubborn and hardheaded. I can get myself in a mess without too much trouble. I am prone to wander. Yet, You never leave me to fight my own battles. Help me today to yield to Your care as I know that You have my best interest at heart.
Amen.
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