Good Shepherd
“I know mine and mine know me.”
Back in Jesus’s time, a shepherd was one of the most lowly positions - it wasn’t highly respected or prestigious at all. It was humble. It wasn’t (and it isn’t) easy work. Simply put - shepherding isn’t for the weak because shepherding requires heart.
A good shepherd doesn’t just offer the bare necessities for His flock - he provides personal care for each sheep. A good shepherd comforts the lambs as they’re weaned from their mothers and cares for the sheep that get sick. He assists the ewes as they birth their lambs and ensures injured lambs are well-tended. A good shepherd provides more than the bare minimum of food, shelter, and water - he cares for his sheep.
The Good Shepherd’s care is personal.
Just like a good shepherd, God cares for each member of the flock in a personal way. A shepherd recognizes the individual need of a lamb and strives to meet it. And so, the sheep recognizes its shepherd because of the care the shepherd offers. It’s the same for us. We recognize God because of the personal care He so freely gives, the time we spend with Him, and the love He offers us.
When we allow the Lord to shepherd us, we come to trust Him. And with trust comes recognition. And with recognition comes intimacy. And with intimacy comes relationship. And with relationship comes knowledge. When we allow ourselves to be shepherded, we come to know the good shepherd - His voice, His care, His protection, His love - and we begin to long for Him and His mantle of care. He is the Good Shepherd. We no longer resent His authority or doubt His love because we are in the flock. We are His, and He is ours. Our shepherd, our keeper, our love.
Father,
Thank You for sending Your son to be the Good Shepherd. Thank You for leading our flock with kindness, love, and personalized care.
Jesus, teach us to lean on You as sheep lean on their shepherd. Teach us to look to You when we have questions, to rush to You when we’re afraid, and to rest in the mantle of Your power.
God, we love You. You are truly the Good Shepherd of our souls. Amen.