Experiencing God's Presence #118

Experiencing God's Presence #118

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. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15

“I am your shepherd. Few people in your society know what that really means; you aren’t familiar with the life of a shepherd. But I want you to know that I sleep where you sleep. I lead you—even drive you—where you need to go. Unless you willfully reject Me, I make sure you don’t stray too far from the path, though I let you wander freely within My pastures. When you get stuck in a ditch, I pull you out. When you fall into a ravine, I rescue you and heal your wounds. Without Me, you would wander aimlessly, scrounge for food wherever you happened upon it, and be vulnerable to predators all around you. You wouldn’t survive. I spend My days and nights with you because it is My responsibility to care for you. You can’t take care of yourself. You need Me.

“I like that arrangement. I enjoy shepherding. I develop a relationship with My sheep and teach you to recognize My voice above all others. You don’t know the significance of all the places I take you or even why I take you there, but you can trust Me to guide you well. I may correct your course, but I don’t punish you harshly. You’re sheep, after all. If you understood—if you saw the landscape as I do—you would never stray. But you don’t, and you can’t—not from your perspective. I know your weaknesses and am patient with you, much more patient than you are with yourself.

“You need to understand that sheep don’t worry about the future, obsess about their mistakes, or strategize their lives. And if you knew the heart of this Shepherd, you wouldn’t either. Sheep follow. That’s all I’m asking you to do.”

Jesus, I know I can trust my Shepherd. You’ve proven that You will go to extremes to care for me. Help me follow You well.