John 10:11
[Jesus said] “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for being our Good Shepherd. As a shepherd, You provide for all our needs; we are like sheep who love wandering in harm’s way. We need someone to protect us because we have no natural defenses. Like sheep, we can make a lot of noise, but the powers of this world are so superior to us that there is little we can do to protect ourselves. The devil, the world, and even our flesh all want to destroy us.
The shepherd’s job is to ensure the flock’s integrity, defend it from enemies, move it to green pastures to feed it, and provide it with still drinking water. A shepherd is more than a job; he is intimately close to his sheep and knows each of them. He would be with each little lamb as they came into this world and do all he could to protect them.
You created us, forming us from the ground through our first parents; You breathed life into Adam. Along with the Father, you richly sustain us by providing us with all we need for this life: food, drink, and homes.
You also gave up your life in our place and won the victory over sin, death, and the devil so that we would have eternal life. You willingly gave everything to save and restore us. You are our Good Shepherd.
We ask for opportunities to share the good news of Your care for us with those who do not know you. Please let them hear of Your love and mercy and, through Your word, change them so that they would become heirs of Your kingdom and have salvation and eternal life through You—our Good Shepherd. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
The Good Shepherd knows all his sheep by name, and they know his voice. Jesus is known through faith. In faith, he leads all who believe in Him to heaven’s greener pastures.