Jesus used this metaphor to communicate with his followers. The survival of sheep depends on the existence of a shepherd who cares.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
“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. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
John 10: 11-16 (NLT).
Here’s a great word for today and everyday.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
who made the great lights— His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136: 1-9 (NIV). “
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100: 1-5 (NIV).
God always has a WORD for us to ponder.
“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
A poor person who oppresses the poor
is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.
To reject the law is to praise the wicked;
to obey the law is to fight them.
Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.
Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.”
#fear #Courage #honesty #integrity
Proverbs 28: 1-6 (NLT).
