Scripture:

John 10:

11″I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14″I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Observation:

This is a beautiful description of what a Shepherd should do…and especially what Jesus…the “Good Shepherd” does for us.

Application:

I pray that I never allow what I do to become a job. It’s not my job to present the Gospel. It’s not my job to pray. It’s not my job to comfort the brokenhearted. It’s not my job to be a “pastor”.

If all I do is just a job… then I have become nothing more than a “hired hand” who flees at the first sign of trouble. I’ve been doing this “pastor” thing long enough to understand that undoubtedly trouble will come. I refuse to run. To leave the sheep to fend for themselves. I know I’ve got a long way to go to understand what it really means to be a “shepherd” but my “good” shepherd is an amazing mentor. I don’t want to do a job. I want to mirror Christ in whatever I do.

What about you?  Do you work for Jesus?  Or…do you love and serve Jesus…the Good Shepherd!

Prayer:

God I know I’m not perfect. I know you are still working on me to mold me into what you have called me to be. I pray that I would be pliable…ready to be formed into the shepherd you see in me. Increase my love for the sheep. Increase my love for you.  I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

1. markseekins posted this