Relaxing In The Arms Of The Shepherd

Relaxing In The Arms Of The Shepherd

Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever. Psalm 28:9

When our children were little, Karen and I decided it would be a good idea for them to experience a taste of farm life. So we bought a few goats and sheep for our little Tennessee farm.

The goats multiplied so fast that it wasn’t long before we had more four-legged kids than two-legged kids! The sheep, on the other hand, were a different story. They never reproduced, and there were never any lambs.

There were other differences between the animals. The sheep were content to stay in one place. They would eat all of the grass in that area, but they refused to venture beyond where they felt comfortable. I had to lead them to greener pastures, or they would have eaten every blade in that one area.

The goats, on the other hand, were regular escape artists. One day, I found all five of them stuck on a bank near the river. I had to lift each one up and out to safety. They relaxed in my arms as I carried them home.

We are a lot like sheep and goats; we need God’s guidance and encouragement to stay in the right pasture. But whether we are a sheep or a goat, there are times in life when we don’t understand where God is leading us or why. As today’s verse says, the Good Shepherd has a plan to save us, bless us, lead us, and carry us in his arms forever.

TODAY’S RX

Today, relax in the arms of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus, thank you for being my Good Shepherd. You guide me away from danger and lead me to green pastures, caring for my every need along the way. Help me to obey your calling and follow after you.